Closing the door after the horse has bolted

News that the council were consulting on a tall buildings strategy for Maidenhead had overtones of the stable door and bolted horse.

Councillors had long ago approved 10 storeys at Cooper Square, 19 at The

Landing and 25 as part of the Nicholsons redevelopment.

Permissions have continued with 11 storeys on the Magnet site at St Cloud Way.

It's true the council were obliged to produce the strategy document.

They were under instruction from the Government's planning inspector as part of her approval of the local plan. And they are obliged to consult.

It's true too that the strategy reflects the inspector's opinion that tall buildings, of a scale more suited to major city centres, are simply not appropriate in Maidenhead – a view shared by the Civic Society and many who care about the future of our town.

But in the same breath the document accommodates the approvals given for the tower blocks in separate caveats.

Just another example, if one were needed, that planning should be above politics.

Bob Dulson

Chairman Maidenhead Civic Society