Neighbours have voiced strong opposition to plans for 600 new homes between Reading and Wokingham, with concerns ranging from infrastructure pressure to the changing character of the area.
Early-stage planning is taking place for the massive ‘Loddon Valley Garden Village’ between the two towns, with the aim of creating a new community and delivering on housing targets.
A facet of the Garden Village is a proposal to build 600 homes immediately south of the M4 as a suburban extension to Sindlesham, which is in Winnersh Parish.
A consultation asking for residents’ views was launched in May, ahead of a planning application being submitted to Wokingham Borough Council this month.
Neighbours have been largely dismissive of the proposal on Facebook.
David Partridge rubbished the concept of a ‘garden village’ the proposers had mentioned as an excuse for urbanisation.
He said: “The BS these people come up with, ‘creating a wider garden village’ – it’s a housing estate of 600 houses on top of each other, nothing wrong with that, but stop the nonsense.
“People will still buy them because it’s ‘Wokingham’ but they are very quickly destroying this area of what made it special and in 10 years time it’ll be unrecognisable.
Rupert Bear commented simply: “Wokingham is turning into Slough.”
Cheryl Bradley expressed concern about the traffic impacts, presumably for Mill Lane, which connects Sindlesham to Lower Earley.
She said: “Great! We already are standstill traffic driving up that road, and apparently another 600 is fine. Why so much density here?”
Polly Bradley-Brock mentioned the changing nature of the area as a whole, as the development would serve as an extension of the Wokingham and Winnersh built-up area.
She said: “What a gorgeous town it [Wokingham] was for my parents ( mum is nearly 80), and I to grow up in.
“When I was thinking about homeowning, I decided I was going to knuckle down and try to buy a house there.
“However, it got so built up, and it lost that lovely feel, so for now I’m in the New Forest and coastal area.
“I still love to come back for a visit, but it saddens me to see the new housing and the change. Who approved the housing out towards Holme Grange village!
“Heartbreaking. I know things must change, but the traffic is a huge problem. It only affects me once a month. But my poor colleagues! Molly Millers Lane area has been a nightmare.”
Cheryl Harvey took the opportunity to critique another major development at Bucklers Park in Crowthorne.
She said: “Garden Village? Like Bucklers Park prison camp, I presume!”
Meanwhile, Jo Ilott raised concerns about the pressure the new community would put on infrastructure and nature.
She said: “Enough. The roads, infrastructure, doctors, hospitals, dentists, schools CANNOT COPE with the amount of houses being built now.
“Stop trying to make one huge city by combining Wokingham, Bracknell and Crowthorne with Reading.
“You are destroying much-needed habitat for our wildlife, we need to protect it!!!!”
The pre-application consultation for the project closed on May 22.
The developers are set to submit an application this month for Wokingham council’s planning committee to determine in December.
