Councillors meant to be part of democracy

The Maidenhead Great Park group is comprised of thousands of ordinary residents who are concerned about the environmental impact of an enormous, unnecessary and health damaging development on our publicly owned woodlands and green space.

We are all very aware of the value of green space for our health and wellbeing, in relation to the air that we breathe, and the benefits of green space for adapting to climate change and reducing flood risk – one of the reasons we supported concerned residents in Cookham.

Residents who support the Maidenhead Great Park campaign have been asking our council to stop the planned destruction of over 200 acres of greenbelt, including the publicly-owned woodlands and open space currently leased to Maidenhead Golf Club.

We’ve done this through a variety of democratic channels, including signing petitions, making representations in

Borough Local Plan ‘consultations’, attending peaceful protests, asking probing questions at council meetings and lobbying councillors.

It’s incredibly disappointing to hear that in exercising our democratic rights, our council leader has accused residents of this town of being ‘politically driven’.

How else are we meant to tell our elected representatives that what they are doing is clearly not in our best interest?

I’d like to thank every single person across the borough who has supported the Maidenhead Great Park campaign to date.

By sticking together, we have succeeded in securing an agreement from our council to increase air pollution monitoring across the entire borough.

With your support, we will make sure this promise is delivered, and we will continue to work together to communicate the legitimate concerns we have for the future health and wellbeing of our community.

TINA QUADRINO On behalf of the Maidenhead Great Park

Campaign Group