Wokingham

Delighted protesters campaigning against a Wokingham housing development burst into applause when councillors unanimously voted against the controversial scheme.

Hundreds of people with placards and banners were outside Wokingham District Council's offices at Shute End on Thursday to demonstrate against the planned 220-home development at Plough Lane.

A meeting of the development control committee was called specially to decide Beazer Homes's outline application to build the housing estate on a green field on Wokingham's border with Binfield.

Campaigner Chris Nabavi said: "I was ticking them off as they put their hands up. To get a unanimous vote is brilliant."

The meeting was so well attended by members of the public that the main Wokingham council chamber had to be rigged with a sound system to cope with the overspill from the committee room where the meeting was being held.

Residents and councillors were worried the estate would encroach on the green fields which divide Wokingham from neighbouring towns and villages.

Ward councillor for Norreys Cllr Iain Brown said that green gaps should not be eroded further.

He said: "Development is creeping ever closer from the Bracknell side of the boundary between the two local authorities.

"Without restraint, the only gap will be the central reservation of the A329M."

The land was earmarked as a reserve housing site by a local plan inspector in 2003.

Campaigners held a protest outside the council offices ahead of the meeting to lobby members of the committee with placards saying 'Keep Plough Lane green' and 'No more strain on local infrastructure'.

Nearly 500 letters of objection were sent to the council, including a letter from Wokingham MP John Redwood, along with an 862-signature petition opposing the project.

The plans were rejected by the Wokingham committee because roads would not be able to cope with increased traffic, the scheme does not have enough affordable housing, would not provide good enough services and infrastructure, and it would put extra pressure on nearby special protection areas.

Mr Nabavi said: "It's fantastic - we have worked long and hard to get this result. It was the result we expected but to hear it officially is great."

But Norreys member Wokingham Cllr Marian Robertson said: "We must be ready to fight again as I am sure there will be more applications on this site."

icBerkshire ~ Wokingham ~ Nov 24 2005