THE future of a major housing development on the Maidenhead golf club site could be at risk if club members refuse the council’s latest offer.
Members of the golf club are set to meet on Thursday, September 9, to decide whether or not to accept the Royal Borough Council’s latest offer for the surrendering of the lease of the 132-acre land on Shoppenhangers Road where over 2,000 homes could be built.
In an email sent to club members, the Conservative-run council has reportedly put £15.95 million on the table as well as a new surrender date of December 2025, giving the golf club more time to relocate. The golf club has declined to comment on this.
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If the deal is refused, then this could jeopardise the housing plans as well as make the borough local plan, which sets out the vision for future development in the borough, uncertain.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting in May 2021, councillor Andrew Johnson (Con: Hurley & Walthams), leader, warned the council will do “whatever they have to” in order to secure that site, including a compulsory purchase order, which forces landowners to sell up if it obstructs a regeneration project.
He also said he is “confident” the borough local plan will be “sound” and will be in a state to adopt later this year.
Overview of the golf club
But the campaign group Maidenhead Great Park released an open letter and video urging the golf club members not to take the deal and save the greenspace from development.
The group has been putting pressure on the council via a petition to convert the golf course into a great park in order to preserve the green open space and biodiversity – but the ruling Conservatives rejected these pleas at a full council meeting in March 2021.
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In the video, campaigner Tina Quadrino said: “Many see this [the council’s offer] as a bribe and it is a bad deal for the people of Maidenhead.
“Some members of the golf club have a very difficult choice to make in the coming weeks. Take the money or vote to stay and continue their rich 125-year legacy and save this green space for the people of Maidenhead.”
Cllr Johnson was contacted for further comment.
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