The View from Shute End...

Wokingham Unitary Councillor Annette Drake reports

"Wake Up!" call to planners and developers

The best news for Hurst must be the dismissal of the Millgate Homes appeal against the refusal by Wokingham council of their application to build 25 homes in School Road.

This is a "Wake Up!" call to the planners at Wokingham and developers who are on the look-out for potential sites. The council's policy on windfall development in Category B settlements such as Hurst has been open to mis-interpretation. Had it not been for the Village Society and Parish Council representations at the Development Control committee, and a few of my rural colleagues, the officers would have given the green light to this application.

I hope the policy on windfall development in villages like Hurst will be clear and unambiguous when the Wokingham Local Plan (modified version) is published. In the meantime the Inspector has given us a test case for the Wokingham District. Well done everyone for your letters and time spent campaigning – the message from this village is loud and clear – "Don't mess with Hurst!"

New chairman and new priorities at the council

The Conservatives increased their majority at the council by 3 after the recent elections when a third of the seats were contested. The new chairman is Bob Wyatt, a well-known local historian who wrote The History of Wokingham, which is a fascinating read. The new electoral boundaries will be in place in May 2004 when all the district’s councillors will face election.

The new council has outlined its priorities for the new year which include tackling crime and the fear of crime, fighting to reduce future housing development in the district, cutting congestion on the district’s roads, and reviewing the provision of secondary school places.

Toy Library at Woodley

The first Toy Library in the district was opened recently in the Highwood Annexe in Fairwater Drive, Woodley. The library is open to everyone, parents, child-minders and playgroups to give them support and new ideas to keep young minds healthy and active.