Activity on a site proposed for a controversial plan to build nine houses was reported to the police, it’s been revealed.
Hurst villagers saw about eight people working some weeks ago among vegetation along a strip by Broadwater Lane (the A321) as it enters Hurst from Twyford.
Now it’s claimed there’s been trespass, criminal damage including removing decades-old vegetation and pruning trees with Tree Protection Orders, on the strip bordering the green field proposed for the homes with three access roads.
It’s also been alleged that the work was done to try and stop the planning application.
A spokesperson for the field owner, Haines Hill Estate, said: “The roadside verge along Broadwater Lane in front of Shorewood’s application site is owned in part by Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) and, in part, by Haines Hill Estate.
“Without authority from either party, on January 15, two people were observed to be cutting down plant life and vegetation along a stretch of around 30m.
“Despite being told they were trespassing and asked to stop, on January 28 a larger group of people were seen removing the remainder of the plant life along this stretch of Broadwater Lane.
“In doing so, branches were pruned from trees protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) despite WBC’s TPO order specifically stating that ‘works to any [TPO] tree, including pruning to branches or roots, must not be carried out without written permission from the Council’.
“In light of this potential criminal damage, we understand both the police and WBC’s Enforcement Officer became involved and interviewed at least one alleged perpetrator.
“Objecting to prospective development is understandable. But it cannot be acceptable to break the law, trespassing on someone else’s land and causing criminal damage (removing vegetation that had been there for decades; as well as pruning TPO trees) in order to try and stop a planning application.
“Rich habitat for multiple wildlife species was removed but we understand Shorewood has undertaken to re-plant this roadside with a more diverse species-rich hedgerow.”
A Wokingham Borough Council spokeperson said: “We received a report of vegetation being cleared along Broadwater Lane, which our planning enforcement team investigated as a possible breach. We discovered some clearance had taken place on highway land, mainly brambles.
“We told the person responsible they shouldn’t be removing vegetation from highway land, but concluded there was no breach of planning regulations.”
Thames Valley Police said: “This matter was reported to the police, but after consultation with the council, they are picking up the investigation into the matter.”
Wokingham Today has asked the Shorewood Homes applicant for planning permission for a comment.
A new protest group, Broadwater Fields Group is fighting the homes which would be outside Hurst’s development area. They have been asked to comment on the Haines Hill statement, but had not replied as we went to press.
The group has delivered 450 letters to residents urging objections to the plan. Objectors say:
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There are five registered veteran oak trees, hundreds of years old, on or close to the site. There could be pressure to lop or fell trees to protect residents and homes.
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It is a site of local importance for bats. There’s concern building work and residents would disturb bat flights and roosting.
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The field has known drainage problems. The area’s drainage network was already under strain. Residents have had sandbags to hold back water and sewage from their homes. A proposed pond to deal with water needed to analysed by WBC.
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Five Grade II listed houses nearby had a shared history and setting with the field. The site was surrounded on three sides by the Hurst Area of Special Character.
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The site is 1.37 hectares, much bigger than the .7 hectares proposed in the local plan.
A spokesperson said: “We’re extremely keen to make sure this scheme does not go ahead. It is a very bad kind of proposal in exactly the wrong place. Residents are very upset about it.”
A survey for the applicants showed 126 ‘bat passes’ in a total of four hours. Of these 78 were common pipistrelles or sopranao pipistrelles. At least five other bat species were found.
There were concerns the bats would be disturbed by the activity.
Walsingham Planning’s statement says:
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The veteran trees’ root protection area would be protected. There would be extensive tree and shrub planting including alders and oaks.
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New greenery would give more flight paths for foraging bats. Bat and bird boxes and hedgehog highways would be provided. Biodiversity on the site would be improved.
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A new drainage system would help wildlife and mean the scheme did not create flood risk on or off site.
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The houses would have landscaping between them and the road. Descriptions of the homes include: ‘gatehouses’, a ‘barn dwelling’ and a ‘farmhouse’.
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The site, on the edge of the Hurst settlement, was allocated for homes in Wokingham Borough Council’s draft local plan.
Hurst Village Society earlier decided not to support or object to 23 new homes in School Road. Wokingham Today asked their planning spokesperson for their opinion on the Broadwater Lane plan and how the society would gather members’ views. He had not replied as we went to press.
Hurst Parish Council will decide their view on the Broadwater Lane plan and tell Wokingham Borough Council.
The borough council will decide whether to give planning permission. Comments on the plan number 240583 can be made by Thursday, March 28. The protest group has a Broadwater Fields Facebook page.
