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Hurst Village Society was formed in December 1971 because of the threat to the village from proposed gravel workings in the Loddon Valley, and to give residents an independent "voice" on planning matters.
People who now enjoy the walks, wildlife, fishing, golf and sailing at Dinton Pastures may be surprised to know that the plans for extracting gravel and clay raised so much opposition.
The first pamphlet about the Society stated that the aims were:
- To prevent further gravel extraction adjacent to the heart of the village
- To preserve the rural aspect of the village
Residents feared that plans for a vast water-based park and recreation area in the Loddon Valley from Twyford to Sindlesham would turn Hurst into a service area of nine car parks off the B3030 Lodge Road and Davis Street with several thousand visitors a day.
Proposals included: lakes for sailing and fishing, a full-scale lido, children's paddling and model boating pools, picnic areas and children's playground. Another 30 or 40 ideas ranged from hotels and country clubs to public barbeque areas, archery and open-air chess. A fairground and water-skiing were seen as major revenue earners.
20 years of gravel extraction
Berkshire County Council had already given permission for large areas of the Loddon Valley to be dug for gravel to build the M4 from Maidenhead westwards, and the A329(M). At the time residents were told there would be 20 years of gravel extraction, and in reality endured many more.
Residents of Woodley as well as Hurst were angry about the noise from the gravel works, some of which operated (for a while) at weekends. The Society also identified dangers to children and old people from heavy lorries, which carried gravel away and left trails of stones and mud on the road, dirt and fumes would affect pedestrians and cyclists, there would be more damage to local roads, and the further loss of agricultural land.
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Hurst New Town
Gravel extraction was not the only subject that made residents angry. An article in Newsletter No. 2 reported that a certain Mr Bull who lived a safe distance away at Ewelme in Oxfordshire, had applied to build 306 residential units and four shops on 19 acres of farm land between Broadcommon Road and Islandstone Lane.
The total development was to be: an 11-storey tower block, a six-storey block and a five-storey block of maisonettes, 270 lock-up garages, a sewage works, sports pavilion and a primary school. A similar application had been rejected in the 1960s, and this one was too.
Parish Plan
The Parish Council drew up a parish plan in 1972 with the aim of providing a constructive alternative to wholesale gravel extraction and speculative development.
First Committee
Annette Drake, a founder member of the first committee, and now Wokingham District councillor for Hurst, still attends meetings as an ex-officio member. Other founder members were L.R. Bugg, Mrs Dorothy Byass, Mrs D Chalmers, S.E. Holmes, A.B. Hutchins, Miss J Kipping, J.N. Knight, T.M. Savage, J.M. Simmons-Hodge, the Rev P.W. Trutwein and B.J. Wagg.
By March 1972 the Society had received more than 100 subscriptions of 50p per couple, and public meetings were scheduled to ensure the HVS was able to gather information from as many people as possible, and really be an independent voice for people in the village.
What happened after 1972?
In the ensuing years dozens of people have served on the committee, several campaigns have been fought - and some of them won - and many dinner dances and other events successfully organised.
The aims of the Society have changed too, and are much broader than campaigning against new developments. If you have memories of Hurst Village Society, which you would be happy to publish in this newsletter, please contact the editor, Wendy Tobitt on 0118 934 xxxx.
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