Housebuilding on green spaces

Re: Finchampstead and Barkham petitioners hand in 1,100 signatures against homes ( Wokingham Today, January 27).

I welcome residents involvement but it was very odd that the houses are scheduled for Barkham not Finchampstead so why would four Finchampstead Conservative Councillors, Margetts, Weeks, Sargeant and Margetts arrange a photo shoot for this?

The answer is simple Cllr Weeks and Sergeant are up for election in May. A similar stunt by Wokingham’s Conservatives who are suddenly opposed 4,500+ houses in Hall Farm in Arborfield.

If the housing plan was so bad then why did they vote for it in the secrecy of their group meetings but yet are against it now?

It can only mean one thing – it’s your vote next May they want and they don’t care how low they will sink to get it. Shame on you Conservatives.

The leader of the council said at last weeks executive “I want to make it clear that all this administration, my party and I are completely opposed to the loss of every blade of grass, tree, shrub, field or green space in the borough. Once it’s gone it’s gone forever.” AS LONG AS IT’S NOT IN REMENHAM or HURST he should have added.

Wokingham Borough Council’s executive member for planning Cllr Wayne (NO HOUSES IN HURST) Smith explained that the council wants to build 4,500 houses at Hall Farm / Loddon Valley, a location where he says 2,200 could be built by 2037/38. This means that 4,500+ houses will create a building site lasting at least 35 years. To 2057 – yes, 2057 or longer.

Cllr Wayne (no houses in Hurst) Smith added Hall Farm / Loddon

Valley as the main new area to meet development needs. Nothing in Hurst and Remenham I notice.

Cllr Wayne (no houses in Hurst) Smith said: “We will review all comments made by residents in our final assessments.” He forgot to add as long as it’s not Remenham of Hurst.

Areas like Finchampstead that have escaped the housing bullet this time around must not be smug as any green space in the South of the Borough will fall before Cllr Wayne

(no houses in Hurst ) Smith will be letting one blade of grass be touched in this beloved Hurst.

Only an X against any name but a Conservative will save the south of the borough from the cement mixer and chain saw.

As the leader of the council puts it once it’s gone its gone. At least he got that right.

Cllr Gary Cowan, Independent

Borough Councillor for Arborfield at Wokingham

Borough Council