Many people in towns and cities during the Covid lockdowns craved open spaces, especially those with little or no gardens. In Wokingham we are lucky enough to have a mix of bustling towns with beautiful green spaces like Cantley Park and more rural areas dotted with farms and criss-crossed with public footpaths we can all enjoy.
Wokingham is one of the least densely populated boroughs in Berkshire and that is a benefit to us, but also to our neighbours particularly those in Reading who can walk along the Thames footpath into villages like Sonning and beyond, and visit Dinton Pastures or our other wonderful country parks. This is something Conservatives believe should be protected but not all parties agree.
Our semi-rural character is in part defended by the Greenbelt. And for that we largely have the post-War Labour Government of Clement Atlee to thank, who passed the Town and Country Planning Act 1947.
The idea of a Greenbelt to protect against urban sprawl was first discussed among the great social reformers of the Victorian era including Octavia Hill, cofounder of the National Trust. The principles were to stop rapidly expanding and polluted towns and cities from spilling out into the countryside and to ensure towns remain distinct without merging into one and another.
The benefits of the Greenbelt and other protections against building in the countryside are clear. Providing opportunities for access to the open countryside and outdoor recreation for the urban population.
It keeps the beautiful English landscapes, of fields and woodland close to where people live, and it has conservation benefits providing habitat for creatures that we all want to protect.
It also retains land not just as charming vistas or pleasure grounds but for useful work such as growing local food, reducing air miles, and forestry.
Last week the Leader of the Labour Party, Sir Kier Starmer, promised a wholesale shake-up of the planning system if he becomes the next Prime Minister including relaxing of rules protecting the Greenbelt and increase in house-building targets.
In a speech last Wednesday, he said; “So mark my words: we will take on planning reform. We’ll bring back local housing targets.” He went on to say “We choose the builders, not the blockers.” By which he means they’ll choose developers and not local residents who object.
He also said that he wants to see house prices come down.
What would this all mean for Wokingham Borough?
There is a theory that if more houses are built house prices will come down, but you only have to look at Wokingham to question that logic. Despite considerable new homes being built we have only seen prices continue to rise.
It would also undoubtedly lead to more house building and a blank cheque for developers.
His speech did not mention help for first-time buyers, higher standards of house building. Local Liberal Democrats say that they want to reduce the numbers of houses Wokingham must build but nationally their party is saying the opposite and instead calling for more houses to be built.
The Conservative Group has been clear we want people today to be able to enjoy the dream of home ownership as previous generations have done and we want to see more affordable homes. But we want to see a reduction in targets for house building and we want sustainable development in the right areas.
Locally the Liberal Democrats do not have a majority on the Council and rely on support from Labour councillors. Nationally the Liberal Democrats and Labour have not ruled out a coalition after the next election. Clearly a vote for either party risks putting Kier Starmer in No 10, and seeing development on the Greenbelt along with losing other protections against unsustainable development. Both parties are committed to more house building targets than the current system.
Labour’s plans would be a backwards step for everyone, eroding vital habitat for wildlife, reducing the amount of food we grow in the UK, and pushing the countryside further out of the reach of people who live in towns and cities.
Cllr Pauline Jorgensen is the leader of Wokingham Conservatives and ward member for Hillside
