Wokingham

Plans for the controversial housing and office development at Wokingham Cricket Club have been dealt a bitter blow after being unveiled to the public.

Residents have declared the buildings "plain ugly".

Developers George Wimpey UK invited Wokingham people to an exhibition at the club's headquarters in Wellington Road last Thursday to give their comments on the scheme, which would see the club move out of the town centre and the current site developed.

The club, which has been at Wellington Road site since 1825, could move to bigger premises in Sadlers End, Bearwood Road, Sindlesham.

Some 107 homes would then be built on the town centre site, including 49 one and two bedroom houses and 58 flats.

While most people agreed the Wokingham cricket club needed a new home, they were not happy about the development on the Wellington Road site.

Main worries included traffic problems, the number of homes, overlooking neighbours and the style of the buildings.

Dorothy Spratt, of Kiln Ride, Finchampstead, said: "I think they're ugly. The apartments look like offices and industrial units. I think they've done completely the wrong style for an old market town like Wokingham."

Husband Tony said: "I'm against all this extra housing because Wokingham is supposed to be a market town and it's being ruined.

"Wokingham is just losing its continuity. We're just cramming houses in for the sake of it."

The move would give the cricket club a new home which would be three times bigger than its current one.

The new site would have two fullsized cricket ovals, a new pavilion and changing rooms.

Club secretary Simon Goddard said: "We have been waiting 23 years for this so it's very exciting.

"My one ambition was to play one season on the new ground and then retire but I finally retired in 1999."

Wimpey design and planning executive William Luck said: "It's a great opportunity for development in a sustainable location. You don't get many places like this; it's convenient for the train station, bus services and the town centre.

"It's a great opportunity for the club to get the facilities that they need."

A spokesman for Wimpey's planning consultant, RHPC, said comments made by members of the public would be taken into account and architects would look into the possibility of changing the look of the buildings, easing congestion and prevent overlooking.

ic Berkshire ~ Wokingham