MORE than 250 campaigners walked across Maidenhead golf course on Earth Day to oppose controversial plans to build hundreds of homes.

The 132-acre greenfield site and land south of Harvest Hill Road, known as South West Maidenhead, are earmarked for over 2,600 homes, schools, open space, and more within the adopted borough local plan.

Maidenhead Great Park campaigners have vehemently opposed the development of the golf course, believing it is “environmentally damaging” as it will “destroy” woodlands, wildlife habitats, and the town’s ‘last green lung. They want the site to be converted into a great park.

A legal challenge against the local plan, which earmarks multiple sites within the Royal Borough for thousands of homes to meet its future population and economic growth until 2033, has been formally filed by the campaign group.

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The local plan has been deemed “sound” and capable of adoption by an independent planning inspector after a rigorous examination process and public consultations. The council has consulted with residents via three online sessions to make the site as sustainable as possible.

The protest walk, which happened on Friday, April 22, started at the footpath by Frederick’s Hotel and Spa in Shoppenhanger’s Road and walked across the golf course until the footpath ended by Clifton Close.

One campaigner said: “We’re going to get tower blocks, flats on here, astroturf, a primary school, a secondary school, a bridge [over the A308(M)]. We don’t need that. We’re going to have over 14,000 residents over the next 15 years. We don’t need that. Nobody needs this development on green belt.”

They also said the town is going to get over 9,000 flats when all the developments are finished, adding: “You can’t get out of Maidenhead without the car. The footpaths and bike paths will take you to the town centre and that’s it. You can’t go anywhere else.”

At the protest, a few people admitted that they didn’t know that Maidenhead golf course was earmarked to be turned into housing.

Slough Observer: This is the fourth protest opposing the housing developmentThis is the fourth protest opposing the housing development

Slough Observer: The protest walk started at the footpath by Fredrick's Hotel and SpaThe protest walk started at the footpath by Fredrick's Hotel and Spa

Tina Quadrino, leader of the Maidenhead Great Park, said it was “really surprising” some people don’t know.

She said: “Because it has been a private members’ golf club for 125 years, not many people really know it’s here even though we have this public footpath.

“It’s a shame and we are always trying to work out how to get more people engaged and tell them more about it. That’s a very big challenge and I think the problem is people don’t know what they got to lose otherwise more people will be horrified as are all the people that have come here today for the first time.”

Royal Borough council lead member for planning, councillor Phi Haseler (Con: Cox Green) said: “Our online events for the community to help inform the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for the area have focussed around the key considerations of Sustainability and the Environment, Connectivity, and Community Needs.

“We welcome constructive feedback to ensure we fully capture and understand the key considerations in preparing a draft SPD for consultation this summer, and to ensure that ultimately we achieve the vision already set in the adopted Borough Local Plan to create a rounded high-quality place where people will want to live and enjoy living.

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“Most public questions asked at these sessions were answered live during the events themselves and we also have an ever-expanding written FAQ on our website providing facts around matters such as sustainability, air quality, traffic, biodiversity and trees, among much else. If you were not able to attend one or more of the events, please do visit the website where you can download all the presentations given and will shortly be able to watch back all three of the online events.

“Please visit www.rbwm.gov.uk/SWMaidenhead-SPD You can still submit comments as part of this stage of the SPD process until April 27. Hard copies of information and public access computers are also available in Maidenhead Library.”

The campaign group is still asking for financial contributions to fund its legal fight against the borough local plan.

If you would like to donate, please visit here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/maidenhead-great-park