Published: Monday, 8th September, 2008 2:00pm
Residents urged to join Pincent's Hill protest
by Alex Gore
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RESIDENTS are being urged to join a protest tomorrow night (Tuesday) against development company Blue Living which plans to build up to 1,000 homes on the ‘green wedge' between Tilehurst and Theale.
Blue Living, and its sister company Beyond Green, will be presenting the results of a five-day long design inquiry to a public meeting in the Calcot Centre, Highview, from 6.30pm.
But campaigners incensed by the very idea of building on the Pincents Hill site will be out in force to demonstrate their opposition and are urging anyone who feels passionately about the situation to join them.
Campaigner Joan Lawrie said: "Blue Living have secured most of the 36 acres required to build 1,000 houses on the first development with an option on another 11 acres. There would be upwards of 3,500 people on this site with at least another 1,5000 vehicles.
"Blue Living would lead us to suspect that they have both Government and Council backing as they have been in "unoffical discussions" with the council and over 100 organisations for months now to see what they would like to be incorporated.
"At last Thursday's meeting a Blue Living spokesman virtually told us ‘shut up and accept it, its going to happen if not now then on appeal, so get used to the idea.'
"All the evidence suggest that they have government and council backing and it will need really fierce organised opposition to fight this."
The developers have held the design enquiry prior to drawing up any concrete plans and submitting an official planning application to gain both public input and support.
But despite both Tilehurst and Theale parish councils and Reading West MP Martin Salter speaking out against any proposal, the developers remain confident that West Berkshire Council's need to meet a government housing target of 10,500 by 2026 will work in its favour.
Mr Salter said: "I share the view of both Theale and Tilehurst parish councils that the retention of this green wedge is of paramount importance.
"I am deeply suspicious of anything proposed by a developer that is called a ‘Design Enquiry'. This smacks of a PR exercise designed to soften up public opinion. Planning enquiries are not organised by developers, they are run by independent inspectors and that's how it should be.
"I'm not saying that there is zero potential for development in this area but the size of the land involved raises serious concerns about the long established settlement boundaries and the future impact on traffic and the local environment"
For more information on the protest call Joan Lawrie on 0118 932 3032
For more stories and your full round up of what's happening in Reading you can purchase the e-edition of the Reading Chronicle click here.
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Susan
(Unregistered User)
Sep 10 08 13:38
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The young lady we spoke to on Sunday at the workshop certainly gave the impression and showed us land that had been outlined on the map of the area that her company had purchased this 37 acres and with the option to buy another 11, which certainly seems strange as it is still classed as a 'settlement gap'.
Maybe they are not as green as they think the residents in the surrounding area are!
Judy
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Sep 10 08 15:40
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After speaking with various representatives from blueliving/beyondthegreen. I too felt it was odd that they had opened a 'Design Enquiry'(definately a marketing ploy). They appear to have done their homework and when I voiced all the various problems from traffic, wildlife, infastructure etc.etc. they said that if permission was refused it would only go to appeal until it was approved. Also I'm aware that the 'Porsche' headquarters are due to re-locate. The land this site occupies could well be used in creating a road. West Berkshire have a lot to answer for as when part of my land was disturbed earlier on in the year I seached their web-site and contacted them for any planning proposals etc plus they still had Pincents Manor as owning the land when apparently 'blueliving' purchased it back in January...
Mark B
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Sep 10 08 18:18
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Any interested people who wish to get involved to fight this please email;
savepincentsfields@yahoo.com
I have been given confirmation today by the council that this is "green field" not brown.
Please help save the bit of green we have. 800-900 homes would be a huge impact on all services, not to mention quality of life.
There is a huge amount of money involved here so make no mistake , Blue Living, and their funders plan to WIN at all costs.
Green sells to the council but Blue Living is a for profit company representing investors who want a return.
This area is not considered to be previously-developed land (brownfield) and is thus considered to be greenfield.
Thanks,
Antony
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Oct 3 08 20:59
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It is going to be a great loss for the community now and in the future if this proposal should go ahead. The loss and disturbance to wildlife. The loss of green open space to walk through and enjoy. The loss of great views across the Kennet Valley, possibly the last uninterupted view across the Kennet Valley should this proposal go ahead. The only people who will enjoy the view are those from the 4 bedroomed proposed houses at the top! There will be nothing for those that enjoy the fields as they are or future generations to enjoy what we see.
Michelle
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Nov 22 08 10:48
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One of the major concerns in this situation is that already have many good schools in this area which are already filled to the limit how on earth are we going to allow for the increase in children that will arrise with so many houses and also living at the bottom of the hill are we going to be able to cope with the large ammount of rain that has been appearing over the last few years ,the poor parish field will be bogged down even more that it does .m
Val
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Jan 6 09 17:16
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Traffic is already very bad roads onto M4 not adequate now, schools very over crowded.Policing between Tilehurst and Theale is not good now .
We need are lovely green fields and views ,who will benefit from this ?
Have they thought of the big picture
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