A COMMUNITY group has penned an open letter to the University of Reading, challenging development plans in south Wokingham.
Save Our Loddon Valley Environment (SOLVE) Hall Farm, who are campaigning against the building of 4,500 houses in Arborfield, laid out their concerns to Helen Gordon, President of Council.
Hall Farm is a 580-hectare agricultural site, the majority of which is owned by the university, and is shared with the Centre for Dairy Research (CEDAR).
Colin Watts, a member of the group, said: “We want to challenge the university and see if we can change the rules on setting housing targets.
“You wonder why it has to happen here. There’s already a lack of infrastructure, the roads are rammed. It’s not appropriate, they’re taking away agricultural land.”
The letter laid out residents’ concerns, highlighting the pressure such a significant development could have on the area’s infrastructure, biodiversity and the environment.
According to Mr Watts, the plans are inconsistent with four of the university’s research themes: agriculture, food and health, environment, heritage and creativity, and prosperity and resilience.
Hall Farm is currently home to a commercial herd of 550 Holstein dairy cows, which produces over 11,000 litres of milk per cow per annum.
Research is conducted into the sustainability of animal production systems, such as milk and meat composition, consumer health and antimicrobial resistance.
SOLVE highlighted the importance of the work the university and CEDAR conduct on-site, particularly in combating hunger, poverty and climate change.
Mr Watts also described the site as “unsuitable for housing”, due to the fact that it, in part, stands on a floodplain.
Arborfield councillor, Gary Cowan, also opposed the proposals, which he believes would endanger the biodiversity, ancient woodland and heritage, such as a 14th Century church ruin and the archaeological remains of an Iron Age village, Hall Farm has to offer.
He said: “A building project for over 4,500 houses, which will take over three years to complete, generating an estimated 7,000 more cars, will add to the traffic and pollution in an area that is already highly congested and polluted.
“It’s simply environmental vandalism on an epic scale.”
Cllr Cowan said construction and climate change would make flooding worse, adding that part of the site is below a category A dam at Bear Wood Lake.
He said: “It would suggest the Reading University has lost the right to be recognised as anything other than a greedy developer, not a place of advanced learning.”
Mr Watts lives in close proximity to Hall Farm, moving to the area 18 months ago.
He has displayed large banners and posters outside his house and says passersby walking from Sindlesham and Barkham often stop to read the information displayed on their signage.
The Aborfield resident contacted his MP, Sir John Redwood, who expressed his desire to see top-down development targets removed, stating his understanding that the Prime Minister wishes to implement this.
Channels of communication have been open between the group and the university, but Mr Watts said representatives were happy to discuss “everything other than fundamentals”.
Responding to the letter, a spokesperson for the university said: “We understand the concerns that some people may have. In particular, we agree with the importance of the need to maintain and enhance our natural environment, and in supporting existing and new communities.
“That’s why we will only consider options for development that are in keeping with the university’s principles and long-term missions.
The university expressed its desire to create open spaces and natural habitats to encourage biodiversity and carbon capture, as well as active transport and recreation facilities for residents.
It also stressed the importance of the relationship between itself and the Shinfield and Arborfield communities.
The spokesperson continued: “Our mission as a university is to maintain and strengthen our role as a world-leading institution for education, research and innovation in our area, for the long term.
“We are committed to maintaining research and facilities for food and farming, in particular.
“The university will only seek to pursue development that supports our core goals, and we look forward to working with and listening to members of our local community as we look to make plans for the future.”
