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25 July 2011
Cris LancasterPolicy and PartnershipsPO Box 157Shute EndWokinghamRG40 1WRFAO: Cris LancasterDear Cris
RE: OBJECTION TO MAY 2011 ARBORFIELD SDL MASTERPLAN
I am writing in response to Wokingham District Council’s 6 week consultation period for theArborfield Garrison Strategic Development Location Supplementary Planning Document and allsupplementary documents. I OBJECT to the proposals laid out in the aforementioned documentsfor the reasons I have listed below:
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Whilst I can understand the need to build on brown field sites currently occupied by theArborfield Garrison, there should be no development until the Garrison has closed and thebrown field site has been physically vacated by the MOD. I note that MPs have recently gone onrecord so say that the Arborfield Garrison would be closed by 2015 with the REME moved toRAF Lyneham. This would be the same set of MPs who also recently said that RAF Lyneham isdue to close by 2012 and sold off. This further confirms how the MOD are constantly changingtheir minds and just because they say its being closed today doesn’t mean they wont be sayingit will now be kept operational next week. How can the council approve plans for re-development without knowing whether the garrison will close or not, a closure that is the highestpriority should development go ahead. I would propose all decisions should be delayed until thefuture of the Arborfield Garrison has been decisively established.
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I completely object to the development of any green fields or the felling of any trees within theArborfield SDL. These green field areas are home to numerous wildlife and any developmentwould greatly risk their habitat. There are surely enough brownfield sites within the garrison fora suitable sized development to take place. Does Wokingham Borough Council agree thatdevelopment should be restricted to the brown sites only within the garrison wire
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If the MOD do not close and vacate the Arborfield Garrison, the whole Arborfield projectbecomes unviable. Does the Wokingham Borough Council agree with this view?
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Currently, Sheerlands Road, Gerring Road and Tyler Drive are relatively quiet areas traffic-wise,and as such provide a safe haven for children to play. Any development around SheerlandsRoad and Tyler Drive would pose a real and severe threat to the safety of all the children causedby construction traffic and later from increased general traffic. My children regularly play outsideour home where I currently feel happy that they are safe from traffic. Are Wokingham BoroughCouncil prepared to accept such a danger to my/our children’s lives with the increased trafficthat this development will inevitably bring to the area as we, most certainly, are not?
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I object to the dust and noise pollution that would be caused by any development around TylerDrive, Gerring Road and Sheerlands Road as the area could be within/adjacent to a building sitefor 14 years.
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The constraints plan on page 10 shows the Environment Agency’s flood zones to be within thenorth eastern part of the SDL boundary. The way these flood zones were developed means that
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