A COUNTRYSIDE charity has helped foot the campaigners’ legal bill following the “disappointing” ruling.

The Berkshire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has provided £3,000 towards Maidenhead Great Park’s legal challenge against the Royal Borough Council’s borough local plan (BLP).

The massive document earmarks multiple sites, including the Maidenhead golf course, for thousands of new homes to meet the borough’s future population and economic growth.

Campaigners sought to block the BLP, believing it was unnecessary to build 2,000 homes at the 132-acre golf course and claimed the council did not follow due process as the BLP should have gone to cabinet prior to it being adopted by February’s extraordinary full council meeting.

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However, disappointment struck the group after a High Court judge recently dismissed their request for an extension of time to legally challenge the BLP at a renewal hearing after their former solicitor failed to serve the papers within the six-week timeframe when the BLP was adopted.

The council previously said the adopted BLP has been through a rigorous examination and consultation period. It added it cooperated fully throughout this legal process and remained confident that due process was followed in making the plan.

CPRE Berkshire chairman Greg Wilkinson said: “This is a disappointing result, especially in view of the strong local opposition to the council’s ill-considered plan to concrete over Maidenhead golf course.

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“Despite this setback, CPRE Berkshire urges the council to reconsider its plan to concrete over this precious green space.

“Sacrificing such a large area of open parkland to create yet more urban sprawl is completely unsustainable and unjustified. It is harmful both to people and nature and to the goal of net zero.”

Maidenhead Great Park campaign group chairwoman Tina Quadrino added: “We are delighted to have the support of CPRE the Countryside Charity to help us continue to challenge our council’s Borough Local Plan for our community.

“The charity’s work to campaign for the protection of accessible local green spaces is helping people living in towns and cities across England to access nature.”