Arborfield residents urge council to ‘hold developers to account’
ARBORFIELD Green residents have urged Wokingham Borough Council to “hold developers to account” following the clearance of trees and shrubs on land close to the planned site of the village centre.
People living in the vicinity of the Arborfield Green community centre received planning notification for 46 dwellings on a plot known as Parcel P earlier last month.
The site, which has always been intended for housing, was cleared of all non-protected trees before permission to build was submitted.
“The planning application’s arboricultural statement is that no trees will be felled — but they already have been,” said David Williams.
“Residents believe that the borough council are not making the original plans for this to be a showcase garden village happen.
“It is an issue which the borough council needs to dig its heels in over,” he said.
Mr Williams said that there is an overall lack of imagination and urgency in bringing green space on the development into use, other than Hazebrouck Meadows. He also said that no more houses should be given permission until there are commitments to complete village facilities.
“For example the historic stables which were refurbished close by to Parcel P are still empty,” he said.
“The area would make a great café, or allotment site, or children’s play park, but there is nothing there.”
Jon Atkinson agreed, and said that residents “feel let down” by the way in which developers seem to be able to build houses piecemeal but not village amenities.
“There are around 6,000 people
living here now and there is nothing here,” he said.
“This could be an election issue in May.”
Cllr Wayne Smith, executive member for planning and enforcement, said that developers are required to plant a number of new trees as part of development proposals.
“The only felling was of nonprotected trees on areas designated for residential use under planning permission,” he said.
He added that the borough council has provided green space on the development but accepts that there is more work to be done.
“We understand the importance of outdoor space,” he said.
“The area near the historic stables has outline planning permission as a village green.
“The landscape strategy for that area provides for allotments, meadowland and tree planting.
“The timeline remains in the developers’ hands but we will be discussing this with them in a few weeks, along with proposals for a district centre.
“The stables themselves are a scheduled monument and Crest Nicholson have advised that they will engage with us, Historic England and residents to help shape the next steps.”
A Crest Nicholson spokesperson said that as a garden village, the development prioritises character, lifestyle, sustainability and sense of legacy.
“We have already delivered a number of amenities,” they said
“Consultation is continuing for some permanent facilities and we are continuing to develop the site in terms of housing and its wider infrastructure.
“The temporary community centre already present on site will in time be replaced by a permanent facility within the district centre.”