THE WOKINGHAM Liberal Democrats are urging residents to have their say on future development in the borough.
The borough council is currently consulting on its Local Plan Update, which will be used to determine future house building in the area.
It sets out key sites for development, and includes proposals for a mass 4,500 home development south of the M4, near Shinfield and Arborfield, at Hall Farm.
Cllr Clive Jones, leader of the Wokingham Liberal Democrats, said that it is essential residents feedback on sites they care about.
“I hope that lots of residents send in their views on the sites proposed,” he said.Cllr Jones said he has some concerns about the Hall Farm site, and said that the land gets “very wet, if not flooded” in the winter months.
He said one of the most important aspects to future development is the supporting infrastructure.
He is concerned that Shinfield does not have a supermarket, despite all of the recent building in the area.
“The job hasn’t been done properly,” he said.
Cllr Stephen Conway, deputy leader of the Wokingham Liberal Democrats said that it is important that residents who commented on the last draft Local Plan Update do the same again.
Cllr Conway said that he asked at a council meeting whether previous comments on the last plan would be carried over. But he was told that residents should write in again with any concerns they have about sites.
He pointed out that some housing numbers have changed, such as Bridge Farm, a development in his ward of Twyford, growing from 150 to 180 homes.
“The most important thing is that people submit their views and have their say,” he added.
The councillor said that while petitions against specific sites can be useful, the council will be putting more weight on individual responses.
Beyond the Local Plan Update, Cllr Jones also called on residents to sign a Liberal Democrat petition calling for housing numbers to be reduced for the borough.
A similar call was made to then housing secretary, Robert Jenrick, by the Conservative leader of the borough council. But Cllr Jones believes that another one should be sent to the new secretary, Michael Gove.
“We want him to change the way that the Government calculates housing numbers,” Cllr Jones said.
The current system is based on historic performance, with areas that have built more homes being asked to continue at that number.
Cllr Jones said he would also like to see more one- and two-bedroom homes built, as well as bungalows.
This, he said, would help young buyers to get onto the property ladder, and give older people the opportunity to downsize.
Cllr Jones said that at the moment, developers are building “more or less what they want”, which is leading to many four- and five-bedroom properties popping up across the borough.
“They can make a decent profit on these,” the councillor added.
Cllr Jones said that he would like the borough council to have more control over what is built.
The consultation on the Local Plan Update ends at 5pm on Monday, January 24.
To have a say, visit: engage.wokingham.gov.uk/en-GB/projects/right-homes-right-places-local-plan
