Reservoir Repreive - The Reasons & The Risks

News that Reading Borough Council finally rejected the application by Thames Water to build as many as 100 new homes on the Bath Rd Reservoir came through last month, but efforts to stop the company from lodging an appeal against the planning decision were given a boost this week.

The 5.4 acre site had been described as a vital 'green lung' close to an Air Quailty Management Area in an area already notorious for heavy traffic.

Campaign co-ordinator Mel Woodward explained that publication of the full reasons why development is unsuitable for the location would prevent government planning processes from overruling the local council decision - which may result in "potentially similar or worse development."

The campaigners hope to preserve the natural state of the site and turn it into an educational resource where local schoolchildren can lead about the environment and our impact on it (copying the example of the Smallmead visitor centre).

In the end a list of 12 reasons were published.

Anna Roberts publishes the full list.

However she also picks up with deputy leader of RBC, Labour's Cllr Tony Page, who said that the reasons for refusal should be taken by the company as grounds to 're-engage with the community'.

He opened the way for new plans to be lodged, explaining that the council recognised that the site was one of a falling number of open spaces in the town, and that they "have always accepted there will be a need for sensitive development."

-

More on the Bath Rd Reservoir campaign