For many years I have fought insensitive overdevelopment across the Windsor constituency and will continue to do so in Binfield and Warfield. My role is to give a voice to residents’ feelings about out-of-control development in the area and, hopefully, we will meet with the same success as we did with the fight against the 3rd runway at Heathrow.
Recently, I met with Binfield Village Protection Society, who have campaigned tirelessly against the extent of the planning proposals around Binfield, to hear their views and thoughts on the proposed housing developments on the Blue Mountain Golf Course. I was determined to meet the group, despite having to fight my way back from the London Papal Visit with a journey of more than two hours!
I found the meeting really informative and it was great to meet with so many residents, many of whom had already written to me about the proposals. I will be working with the Society and local residents to get some answers from Bracknell Forest Borough Council and will do what I can to support their wishes.
The Coalition Government has recently announced changes to the planning framework. The Labour Government’s national planning targets have been abolished and housing development will now be, rightly, a decision for local Councillors to make, because they are directly democratically accountable to residents. Thankfully the local Councillors are supportive of local wishes and, given the change of national policy, they are now able to respond to local residents and help decide the level of local housing.
We are fortunate to live in such an idyllic area which retains the feeling of a distinct local village. I will continue to fight alongside local residents to keep it that way.
