A CONTROVERSIAL flats plan that saw the destruction of nearly 50 trees before an application was submitted has been refused.

A roar of anger was belted out from residents living in and nearby Slough Road in Datchet after developer Setplan chopped down about 45 trees and started bonfires to dispose of the waste from March 2020 on land to the rear of 27 and 29.

Villagers complained that they were living next to an “industrial trading estate” over the years and were upset to learn the habitats of nesting birds and bats had disappeared. They also said the loss of trees has caused flooding issues for neighbouring properties.

The plans, which were submitted in June 2022, involved building six two-bedroom apartments with 13 car parking spaces and an access road. Unsurprisingly, the scheme was met with a tsunami of objections from residents and was called in by ward councillor Gary Muir to be determined by a planning committee if it was approved.

Nearby resident Graham Buckland previously said the land clearance was conducted in the “most ruthless and unsocial way possible,” adding Slough Road will be “underwater” if the development was allowed without having the 45 trees as natural flood defence.

Applicant Arnold Ward previously said it was “human nature” for people to oppose changes to their surroundings and it was “unfair” for residents to object to developments given they are in a “highly sustainable and desirable location”.

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However, Royal Borough planning officers agreed with the objectors and refused the scheme for a number of reasons, primarily over flooding, overdevelopment, insufficient information on tree protection and biodiversity, and the scheme’s design not being in keeping with the area.

One resident wrote: “When another flood occurs, [the development] will increase the flood impact on Ruscombe Gardens and other properties nearby; particularly as the developer removed a great number of established trees.

“By removing these trees and shrubs, they evicted the local wildlife, as well as increasing the risk of flooding in the local area.

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“The risk of flooding would also be increased by the footprint of the proposed development (tarmac road, tarmac parking, bike store, bin store, pathways, and a large building).

“Slough Road is a very busy road and a main artery into the village; another road joining it so near to Eton Road roundabout would cause more congestion not only in Slough Road but also in Datchet village.

“The proposed road would also be a road safety issue as it is opposite an entrance to Churchmead School.”