Parish Council Meeting 23/06/2009

Attended by:
Colin Green (Shinfield Residents Action Group, SRAG), Marlene (SRAG), Geoff (SRAG), Gordon, Tony, Simon, John, Chris and Caroline.

The following points were put forward to the parish councillors against the development of the Science Park:

• The building of the Science Park is due to start in January 2010, but the access road will not be started until October 2010. This means that Cutbush Lane will be used for access.

• Erosion of green wedges between Shinfield and Lower Earley (see document about assessment of gaps and housing within Wokingham)

• There will be access for Emergency vehicles and buses from Cutbush Lane causing traffic noise and disruption. They will go very close to the grade II listed barn

• Construction times 7am-6pm (Mon-Fri), 7am-1pm (Sat)

• Construction spanning 26 years

• 3 lanes over the new bridge merging into 1 lane (in each direction)

• Damage to wildlife (migration paths) and protected woodland

• The planning application does not include the ‘Development Management and Allocations DPD confirming the Science Park allocation and a subsequent Development Brief SPD’ which are required by the Submission Wokingham Borough Core Strategy (section 4.7.6, c).

• And other items we didn’t have time to write down.

The Parish Councillors stressed that they must be consulted about the planning application and will put forward our concerns but have no authority. They advised involving the Wokingham Borough Councillors for Shinfield South (Malcom Bryant, Barrie Patman, Anthony Pollock), who will be invited to our next meeting.

There was some discussion about whether consultation with a planning advisor would be useful. It was emphasised that we need to explain our reasons for objecting to the Science Park, and we could use the Planning Policy Statements to help articulate our ideas.

Next Meeting:
Thursday 25th June 2009, at 7:30pm
In Shinfield Parish Hall, School Green (Parish Council Room, 1st door on right).