CAMPAIGNERS have raised enough funds in a bid to overturn the council’s controversial housing plan.

The borough local plan, which earmarks multiple sites for thousands of new homes, was approved by the ruling Tories in February after the independent planning inspector found it to be “sound” and capable of adoption following rigorous examinations and public consultations.

But the plan has proven to be controversial to environmental campaign group Maidenhead Great Park, who vehemently oppose it and have been urging the Royal Borough Council to stop the development of the Maidenhead Golf Course.

Instead, they want the 132-acre greenspace site to become a great park for residents to enjoy rather than it being concreted over for over 2,000 homes.

The group set up a fundraiser with a target of £12,000 in order to raise the funds to seek legal and ecological advice. It is hoped campaigners have a strong enough case to overturn the “environmentally damaging” local plan via judicial review.

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It has raised more than £11,500 after an anonymous user donated a very generous £1,500. Tina Quadrino, chairwoman of the Maidenhead Great Park, said: “We have been delighted with the response from our supporters and we have so far raised over £11,000 through our Go Fund Me campaign.

“We now have enough money for the first round of legal advice, but we are continuing to raise money for further campaign steps, including ecology surveys, leaflets, and social media campaigns.

“We have appointed a solicitor and the necessary information has now been collated and sent to a Barrister to determine whether or not we have a case to take the Borough Local Plan to Judicial Review. We expect to hear back from the barrister within the next two weeks.

“We’d like to thank everyone who has supported our campaign so far.”

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A spokesperson for the council said climate change, biodiversity, and sustainability have been reviewed via a sustainability appraisal that will support the future development, which will be subject to a community engagement process.

Adding: “Having a new sound and adopted Local Plan puts the borough in a strong position to meet, in a sustainable way, all our local housing and employment needs, to capture investment and regeneration opportunities, guard against unsupported speculative development and protect our valued natural and built historic heritage.

“While a tiny fraction of green belt development is needed in sustainable locations, the BLP still protects 82 per cent of the borough as green belt and just one per cent has been released for new homes and employment.”

The Go Fund Me page can be found here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/maidenhead-great-park