Published: Thursday, 15th October, 2009 5:00pm

Reservoir campaign not out of the woods

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CAMPAIGNERS who fought to save the Bath Road reservoir are rejoicing after plans for 96 homes were thrown out.

But they fear they are not out of the woods yet because the site's owner Thames Water can still appeal against the planning committee's decision made during a dramatic showdown on Wednesday last week.

Phil Birch - who lives near the 2.2 hectare site in Coley and ran the Reading Half Marathon dressed as a badger in support of the wildlife living above the soon to be obsolete underground reservoirs - read a rhyming plea to the committee and packed public galleries. He said: "We all need homes to live in, this is nothing profound. But we need to step back, wise up and look around. Bio-diversity will die with no habitat. Yet when driven by profit it's hard to care about that."

Ecologist Graham Griffiths, Reading West Tory parliamentary hopeful Alok Sharma and political veteran Lord Stoddart of Swindon, who lives opposite the site in Bath Road, also expressed fears about increased traffic and parking problems.

In an unprecedented move, Reading West Labour MP Martin Salter asked to address the committee, saying the proposal would "fundamentally damage" a "unique" part of the town. But Thames Water spokesman Bhavash Vashi said: "We believe that this will help meet strong demand for families moving." Council planning officers had recommended that the application should be passed, but the committee voted unanimously to refuse it.

They said it was an over-development of the site and gave 11 planning reasons for their decision, which will now be worked on with officers.

Lord Stoddart said afterwards: "I'm thrilled and I think the council is to be congratulated on listening to the people."

Save The Bath Road Reservoir campaigner Mel Woodward said: "We invite Thames Water to approach the community to discuss where we go from here."

Thames Water spokeswoman Amy Dutton said: "Naturally we are disappointed but until we have received confirmation as to the grounds and have considered our position, we do not feel it is appropriate to comment."