Housing is important, but so are our green spaces. We need to find the right balance between providing housing (in particular, affordable housing), parks and countryside, and other amenities.
Whilst I am very much in favour of developments on brown field sites, such as Star Lane, I believe that we have had more than our fair share of housing allocations recently in Wakering and we should not be building on too much of our surrounding farmland. We do not have the infrastructure and we are ruining our outlook and the habitats of our local wildlife. And rather than providing homes to the children of those who already live here, we are simply turning the village into a big housing estate and attracting more and more people to move in.
Our schools, roads, drains, doctors etc. are struggling to cope. And already, large areas of farmland have been earmarked for future development.
The Council have indicated that any development in Wakering should also include:
However judging by past records these improvements are not always forthcoming and any benefits, such as play spaces/public open spaces, might only serve the new estates.
I believe that the Parish Council and our District Councillors should be pushing back much harder to restrict the uncontrolled developments in the area. Our newest Councillor (Jo McPherson) is already making it clear that she is behind such restrictions and I will be joining her in her efforts.
