Wokingham Borough Council has approved plans to revamp Elms Field by 7 votes to 2.
The meeting took place on Wednesday, March 30, and started with a petition from residents urging the council to protect Elms Field being handed to Wokingham Borough Council chief executive Andy Couldrick.
In the meeting Chair Simon Weeks has confirmed that 62% of green space will be retained and enhanced, meaning 38% will be lost.
There were questions on the lack of affordable housing and it was revealed that there are 60 planning conditions attached to this application to attempt to address any concerns.
During the meeting there were many people speaking both in favour and against the plans, which will see part of Elms Field next to Spin Nightclub converted into shops, a cinema and a hotel. A supermarket – thought to be Aldi – will also be on the site which will contain car parking.
Around the edges of the remainder of Elms Field, housing will be built.
Cllr Bob Pitts said he wasstruggling to find a reason to turn the application down, even though he doesn’t agree with every proposal. He is incredibly saddened by the reduction of trees in the site.
Cllr Rachelle Shepherd-DuBey wanted the committee to reject the plans, something that was seconded by Cllr Bob Pitts. But with just their votes the motion failed and the committee passed the plans.
Campaigner Mel Horton, speaking through tears, has said she is ‘disgusted’ in the legal process that is in place. Speaking to The Wokingham Paper she said: “We have made our feelings on this matter plainly clear and the council has not listened to us.
“They will destroy the heart of Wokingham, I don’t want to sit in a cold, dark cafe overlooking a dark park in the summer, who does?
“Wokingham has lost its specialness, it will become another identikit town just like Aldershot or Farnborough, which is such a shame.
“We will lose a beautiful part of our town and what will we get in return? A budget supermarket. It’s disgusting.”
There will be more on the meeting in Friday’s Wokingham Paper – don’t miss your copy, on sale for just 50p.
