RESIDENTS of a Wokingham borough village are campaigning against plans to build 40 homes on Edneys Hill, but say they have been banned from displaying protest banners.
The Save Edneys Hill campaigners have been sent letters by Wokingham Borough Council telling them to remove the banners as they breach planning rules.
Last October, Bewley Homes submitted a plan to create the new development, leading to dozens of neighbours objecting.
Enola Adams-Dorey said “nothing positive” will come from the development, arguing that it will create additional pressure on roads and local services such as school places and doctors surgeries.
William Tyler, who lives in Finchampstead, said: “The narrow lanes in this area are already badly damaged.
“This development would make it worse. This space is not vacant. It is home to wildlife which would be mainly destroyed.
“The significant light pollution in this area would be made worse. There are already too many houses in this area and there is little space left for nature. This remaining area is beautiful.”
Boyer, the planning agents working on behalf of Bewley Homes, said the development would create ‘a beautiful and timeless new neighbourhood integrated as part of Barkham’.
They added there would be other benefits to the plan, including providing a ‘biodiversity net gain’ and be a “lively and fun” place to live, complemented with an inter-connected network of amenity open space, parks, gardens and onsite orchard and play areas.
The plan involves demolishing 368 Barkham Road to clear a path to the development.
The new estate would comprise four five-bed, 13 four-bed, seven three-bed and six two-bed houses, plus eight two-bed flats over garage (FOG) maisonettes and two one-bed maisonettes.
Forty per cent (16) of these would be affordable, consisting of six FOG maisonettes, five three-bed homes, three two-bed homes and two one-bed maisonettes.
You can view the application by typing reference 223037 into the council’s planning portal.
