LAST YEAR Wokingham.Today reported that residents of Barkham Road in Wokingham were fighting an application by a housing developer to build up to 40 new homes on adjacent pasture land.
Bewley Homes had submitted a planning application to build on a field at the edge of Wokingham known as Edneys Hill.
The field is currently home to rescue ponies, and is considered by locals to be an important natural corridor for wildlife.
Residents were unhappy about the proposed development, which they said would result in increased traffic on Barkham Road, and destroy a valued green space.
This month the application was refused on a number of grounds.
The council said that the development was not appropriate for the neighbourhood, and that it would have a negative impact on the landscape, the appearance, and the character of the area.
Access to the development was too cramped and narrow, and neighbouring gardens would lose their privacy.
Edneys Hill is considered as Grade 3 class agricultural land.
Its loss was not considered to be sufficiently outweighed by the benefits of the proposed development.
And, due to its countryside location, residents of any new homes on the site would not have access to sustainable transport, but would be forced to drive to facilities and services in Wokingham.
Finally, the council was unhappy that the developer had failed to demonstrate sufficient compensation for the loss of biodiversity, hadn’t provided training or apprenticeships provision, and had failed to plan sufficient affordable housing.
Adele Yemm one of the residents who set up a Save Edneys Hill protest website said: “We are elated, for now.
“We all campaigned very hard against this development, which we felt was not appropriate for the area.
“There has been an awful lot of house building already here, at Arborfield Garrison, along with a great deal of infilling.
“There’s very little green space left here, and we will keep working hard to save what remains.”
Ms Yemm says that since Bewley Homes cut down trees on Edneys Hill, illegally, in preparation for the development, people have noticed a reduction in the area’s wildlife.
“We don’t see deer in our gardens any more, and there are fewer red kites around.
“We’re already noticing the impact of what they did,” she said.
The group recognises that although this battle has been won, Bewley Homes may come back with a revised planning application.
“We’re not silly,” added Ms Yemm.
“We know the developers may return with another proposal.
“We’re not against development, and we’re not unrealistic, but any development needs appropriate infrastructure.
“It must be carefully planned, and properly thought through.”
Ms Yemm says that Edneys Hill is a much-loved pasture, well used by locals and dog walkers.
“Since the pandemic everyone is more aware than ever of how valuable our green spaces are to us all.
“They are essential to our wellbeing,” she said.
They may be elated for now, but Ms Yemm says that Barkham Road residents will not be sitting back complacently.
“We’re a strong group,” she added, “and we’ll keep fighting to preserve Edneys Hill.”
