Print and fill in the consultation form (7 pages!) that can be downloaded here. Then send it to:
Planning Policy Team, West Berkshire Council, Market Street, NEWBURY, RG14 5LD
On-line. Access the on-line document, register, scroll down to "Eastern Urban Area", add comments and submit them. You may also want to respond to the earlier question: "Strategic Sites" that asks whether you support or object to focussing the main housing sites in Newbury/Thatcham and in the "Eastern Urban Area" that includes Theale.
Read and comment on the complete document (ten sections plus glossary).
Object to the "Focus on the Newbury/Thatcham Urban Area and the Eastern Urban Area" on the "Strategic Sites" question. Click here for some reasons
Ignore the section on Newbury and Thatcham. These sites will not directly affect Theale
Go for Option 6 - None of These on the "Eastern Urban Area" section. All the other options - except Option (1) - would bring some extra housing to Theale that Theale will not be able to cope with. Option 1 would build in the gap between Theale, Calcot and Tilehurst so would also lead to Theale losing it's individual identity. In the box under Option 6 put reasons like those suggested below.
These are suggestions - include those you agree with (in your own words if possible) and add any more of your own. It is best that responses look individual.
Theale will have difficulty coping with the pressures from the 350 homes already approved at appeal at the Lakeside site and cannot cope with another housing site:
- Schools fully subscribed and school sites cannot be extended
- Doctor's surgery fully utilised
- High Street, A4 between Arlington roundabout and M4 J12, and M4 Junction 12 itself are already heavily congested and cannot take any more traffic.
Theale would lose its individual village character and sense of community. It would become a suburb of Reading:
Theale site not suitable for housing:
- High-voltage power lines cross site: land under power lines could not be built on for safety reasons; noise from arcing; health fears; unattractive and unpleasant area in which to live
- Sewage works site is probably heavily contaminated
- Bordered by motorway and busy A4: noise and pollution problems
- Sound fence on elevated A4 would be an eyesore and would obscure the pleasant roofscape view of Theale
- Flood risk on site
- Increased flood risk for Sulham Brook further downstream.
Please also see my submission on this topic, that goes into a bit more detail.
This page was created and is maintained by Alan Macro, West Berkshire councillor for Theale. Last updated 17/06/2009 .
Published and promoted by Councillor Alan Macro, 17 The Green, Theale, RG7 5DR
The views expressed are those of Alan Macro, not of the service provider