Thousands sign Pinewood petition

A PETITION against developing Pinewood has gathered more than 3,800 signatures.

The site has been included in the Revised Growth Strategy, an update to the local plan that was consulted on until last month.

Bex Brunel-Walker, co-founder of the petition, said that she is concerned that Pinewood has been included in the document, but without clear information on housing numbers.

The strategy proposes “selffunded regeneration” and states: “The premises on site are of varied quality, and they would benefit from investment.

“Proposals would be drawn up in consultation with the existing occupiers. Some of the income from any housing on the site would be invested back into community facilities on-site, or, if appropriate, their relocation to a new home.”

The petition was signed by 3,866 people, with some living as far as France, Spain, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

“Lots of people remember it as a child,” Ms Brunel-Walker explained. “It’s a gem of a place.

“I’m very glad to see so many signatures, it shows just how many people care for Pinewood. People that use it, or have used it, and don’t want to see any houses there.

“Just take it off the table.” Ms Brunel-Walker said that she would have liked to see more support from councillors in the area for her petition: “It got more signatures than Rooks Nest Farm petition, but that got the support of councillors.”

The Pinewood petition was not signed by Wokingham Without’s three Conservative ward councillors.

“They said that they’re putting their objections in,” Ms BrunelWalker said. “I think that they came in at the last minute when they saw the number of signatures.”

Ms Brunel-Walker has previously said the proposal is like “deja vu”, and said a similar suggestion was made around seven years ago for Oakham Park.

She said that the land was put up for speculative development, but without clear housing numbers — 113 homes were then built on site.

“It feels like it’s happening again,” she said. “The council put it at the end [of the site list] so nobody would notice. Well 3,800 people said, ‘Leave Pinewood alone’.”

Ms Brunel-Walker has previously raised her concerns about the impact any development would have on infrastructure.

“We’ve got to think about the sewage infrastructure, the impact of these cars on the road, and the pressures on GPs,” she said. “The council is not thinking about the bigger picture.”