Residents say their village is under siege from developers wanting to build houses on its green spaces.
Ninety villagers turned out to Hurst Parish Council’s meeting to hear about two more plans to build houses in the village.
One is for 24 homes on a much-loved Willowmead field in School Road. It’s known to thousands as the former home of Hurst Show and Country Fayre. After being told to leave, the show moved to the school field and Martineau Green.
The other plan is for three houses at Walden Acres, Wokingham Road. Agents told the parish council meeting about the plans last week.
Hundreds of Hurst objectors are already fighting a scheme for 200 homes, between Tape Lane and the B3030 from Winnersh towards Twyford. An appeal for planning permission starts on January 31.
The council’s procedures don’t allow discussion by residents attending, but afterwards chairman Cllr Wayne Smith said:
“Residents tell me they feel under the cosh of prospective developers trying to take advantage while objectors are busy fighting the Tape Lane plan, hoping they’ll get in under the radar. The parish council will decide its view once it’s seen the applications for permission.”
Objectors saw off a scheme for 33 homes at Broadcommon Road, in January. Later four homes were approved on appeal for Sawpit Road. It’s believed two more schemes may be on the way for the village.
A villager said: “It feels very much like it’s open season on Hurst for prospective developers.”
Wokingham borough does not have a five year supply of housing land. This means there is a presumption in favour of a development being approved at a planning appeal, unless it can be proved a scheme’s harm outweighs its benefits.
“Once there’s a weakness the developers sweep in,” added the villager.
Another said: “It feels like we’re under siege.”
The proposal for three homes is by Tim and Rupert Drake for part of the site of their family home at Walden Acres, said Matt Taylor of St Edwards Design and Planning, part of Churchgate Premier Homes, also involved with the planning application.
He said the application for a pair of semi-detached cottages and a detached house would go in this month. The homes would be infilling in that road. The site’s existing house would remain. The brothers’ mother, former borough councillor Annette Drake, used to live at Walden Acres.
Mr Taylor said there was a house shortage and villages like Hurst were expected to provide a proportionate number. It was proven that building small sensitive developments meant bigger ones could be staved off.
Edward Butler-Ellis of Ward Strategic Communications who spoke at the parish council about the Willowmead field proposals was unavailable afterwards.
Cllr Smith has criticised Wokingham Borough Council’s controlling Liberal Democrat group for not getting on with the Local Plan showing areas for new homes – although a new draft is currently in preparation.
“Without it the whole of the borough is exposed to potential planning applications,” he said.
Cllr Smith said donations to pay for a barrister at the 200 homes planning inquiry were going well.
“We’re not quite there yet,” he added. “The parish council is very appreciative of the donations so far and for the favourable comments about how the council is taking on the case.”
