CAMPAIGNERS have taken another step in their fight against plans to build 4,000 homes in the countryside.

The recently-launched Save Jealott’s Hill campaign was set up to stop the controversial housing proposals set out as part of Bracknell Forest Council’s (BFC) draft future housing plans.

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If the designs are progressed, residents could see 240 hectares of green land developed at the site of multi-national tech company Syngenta in Warfield.

Now organisers have set up a “flagship information centre” where concerned residents can keep up-to-date with the latest information about the plan.

Bracknell News:

Charlie Griffiths, of the Save Jealott’s Hill campaign committee, said: “We have come a long way since the night of December 4 last year, when Warfield Parish Council rejected the plan and called upon Bracknell Forest Council to drop the entire Jealott’s Hill proposal.

“There was no organised opposition at that time, but, after the lead the parish council gave, a few of us got together to see what could be done.

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“Savejealottshill.com is our flagship information centre for local residents to be informed of the details of the proposal and to band together to stop a completely unnecessary assault on the Green Belt.”

Bracknell News:

This launch comes just more than a week after the results of BFC’s draft local plan consultation were revealed.

Of the 2,867 comments left by the 363 residents or community groups regarding the Jealott’s Hill proposal, only 28 supported the plans.

This is around one per cent of the total responses, meaning more than 2,820 comments were left opposing the plans.

Bracknell News:

Despite more than 4,000 people signing a petition opposing the plans, bosses at Bracknell Forest Council say the development will drive up the number of affordable houses in the borough (1,400 are planned at the site) and will support business opportunities.

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Andrew Hunter, a director at BFC, said last year: “The proposal at Jealott’s Hill seeks to support jobs and economic development opportunities for the borough, whilst also boosting housing supply and providing supporting infrastructure.”

A public inquiry is planned for late 2020 as the next stage in the progress of the local plan.