Published: Wednesday, 24th February, 2010 9:00pm

750-home plan thrown out

by Alex Gore

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THERE was rapturous applause from members of the public tonight (Wednesday) as a controversial proposal to build up to 750 homes on the edge of Reading was thrown out.

West Berkshire Council's planning committee members followed their officers' recommendation to reject Blue Living's outline application for a minitown on Pincents Hill at Tilehurst, to the delight of an audience of around 200 people packed into the main hall at Little Heath School.

The developer failed to show up, instead sending solicitor Steven Turnbull who incensed councillors and officers by accusing them of being uncooperative and politicising the planning process in a cheap attempt to win votes.

In response councillors labelled the developer "arrogant and disgraceful", with chairman Brian Bedwell adding: "Members take exception to the inference that they have not come here with open minds. We do not pre-determine planning applications."

Mr Turnbull was heckled by the audience throughout his speech before leaving while the meeting was still in full swing. As he left the room he was followed by 10-year-old Katie Turner, from nearby City Road, who presented him with a poster which read, 'please don't make it blue living here'.

The solicitor had told the committee that his clients should be commended for their open dialogue with residents while drawing up the application, and that it would help the district meet its need to provide new and affordable housing in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.

Mr Turnbull also said the development would create up to 400 jobs and would not have a negative impact on the area's roads. He added: "My client believes that this application has not received the consideration it merits as a truly sustainable extension to the economic driver in this region."

Planning officer Clive Inwards recommended the application be rejected for a variety of reasons including its failure to adhere to the council's policy of protecting the strategic gap between Tilehurst, Calcot and Theale.

He concluded: "The application proposes inappropriate and unjustified development on a green-field site outside of the current settlement boundary. Material considerations do not outweigh the general presumption against development in the countryside."

Opponents of the proposal who spoke at the meeting included the Tory candidate for Reading West, Alok Sharma, his Labour rival Naz Sarkar and ward councillors Joe Mooney, Emma Webster and Tony Linden.

Chairwoman of Tilehurst Parish Council, Jean Gardner and founder of the Save Calcot Action Group, set up in opposition to the development, Joan Lawrie, also addressed the meeting.

Mr Sharma said: "The message from local people is crystal clear. It is the wrong development, in the wrong place at the wrong time. It will result in a large increase in traffic on a road network already stretched to breaking point.

"This site has been use for many years by residents as a recreational space and we want our children and grandchildren to inherit it."

Cllr Linden described the site as the green lung between Tilehurst, Calcot and Theale and said: "Members will have noticed on the site visit just how popular this area is for people walking their dogs and young families getting out and seeing at first hand the local wildlife.

"In a democracy we should have the right to choose where we build houses in West Berkshire."