Further to the big public meeting at Ascot Racecourse pavilion, on November 7th, Patrick Griffin - Chairman of the Sociaety for the Protection of Ascot & Environs (SPAE), has written to local councillors and MP, alerting them to the very strong community objection to London Square's plans for Ascot High Street. See below to read SPAE's letter. CLICK HERE for full report of meeting
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11 Pinecote Drive
Ascot
Berkshire
SL5 9PS
About Us Website: spae.org We consider ALL planning applications in the Ascot area Facebook: bit.ly/spaeorg and comment whenever necessary Twitter: twitter.com/spae_org Instagram: instagram.com/spaeorganisation
14th November 2022
To Mr Andrew Johnson, Leader of the Council
CC Adam Afriyie MP, Cllr David Hilton, Cllr Julian Sharpe, Cllr John Story, Cllr Sayonara Luxton, Cllr Christine Bateson, Cllr Phil Haseler
Dear Mr Johnson,
Over 200 residents attended a public meeting on Monday, 7th November, at Ascot Racecourse to discuss the Planning Application for Ascot Centre (Application 22/01971).
Read more: SPAE Alerts Local Councillors & MP to Planning Objection
A public meeting was held on 7th November at Ascot Race Course (Pavilion Room) to consider developemnt plans for Ascot High street site.
Hundreds of angry Ascot residents turned out on a wet November night to consider London Square’s Plans for housing, commercial and open space, on the wooded area behind Ascot Fire Station, south of the High Street, access off Station Hill (planning application (22/01971) ).
After a very clear and informative presentation by Patrick Griffin (Chairman of the Society for the Protection of Ascot & Environs - SPAE) and former solicitor, Martin Baker, the meeting voted overwhelmingly for the motion:”After careful consideration of the facts, the meeting strongly objects to the planning application submitted for Ascot centre and calls on the Council to reject it.”
Patrick Griffin explained that the proposal is for development of the 2.77 hectares of land (owned by Ascot Central Car Parks –ACCP), accessed from Station Hill, with 137 dwellings , 3,261 m2 commercial/retail, open space and loss of 46 out of 115, good specimen oaks and sweet chestnut trees.
The presentation described the application as ‘very seriously flawed’ for many reasons - firstly because 137 houses is nearly half the total 300 dwellings, allocated for the whole 12.3 hectares of Ascot High Street development land (Policy AL16), set out in the Local Plan, approved in February. So completely out of proportion to the eventual whole!
If the London Square development is permitted, at this density of around 50 dwellings per hectare (dph), as opposed to the envisioned 25 dph, there is a surely a risk that AL16 as a whole, will end up with twice the allocated 300 dwellings, at least! Similarly, the London Square site is taking half the allocation of commercial units, on only one fifth of the whole AL16 site!
Read more: Angry Public Meeting Rejects High Street Planning Application
Several locations in Bracknell Forest, including libraries, are hosting community hubs this winter. These hubs will give residents a safe and warm environment during the colder months.
We are currently looking for volunteers to help us run the hubs. If you enjoy working with people, are enthusiastic about helping others, and want to get involved then you might just be the person we're looking for.
Your times will be agreed before you start, and we'll work around your needs wherever possible. For more information, and how to apply, you can visit the BF website.
WEBSITE
The Chestnuts and connecting Chestnuts Lane, are green spaces that comprise 1.7 hectares of land in Warfield Harvest Ride.
The sites are remnants from the Warfield Park estate and comprise a mixture of shrubs, grassland and veteran Sweet Chestnut trees that are thought to be approximately 200 years old.
The Chestnuts has:
- a historic icehouse that’s a Grade II listed building
- veteran sweet chestnut trees and a historic stone plaque
- information boards about site history and wildlife
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shared footpaths and cycleway (The Chestnuts Trail)
The Lexicon is delighted to welcome two new signings to the town centre.
The first, independent retailer, FourState, will move into The Avenue, in the unit previously occupied by Sea Salt. It is anticipated that the new store will open its doors towards the end of October.
FourState, offers a wide range of eco-friendly products, putting the planet first, at the forefront of everything it does and sells. All products are ethically sourced and with each purchase, money is donated to sustainability campaigns and communities in need.
Its product range includes toiletries, clothes, jewellery, home furnishings, lifestyle, plants and much much more.
Read more: Two New Businesses Coming to Bracknell's Lexicon
They form part of a green corridor running west to east, following the line of an old track which used to offer access to the cottage gardens. A tarmac cycleway runs along its length. This can be used by pedestrians, cycles, wheelchairs and prams as a form of access or passage to and from the Whitegrove Housing Estate, the surrounding greenspaces and Tescos.
