VILLAGERS have called for development to pause in Datchet until infrastructure issues are resolved as new homes are ‘forcing residents out’.
Concerns were raised at an extraordinary Datchet parish council meeting over developer Inland Ltd’s plans to build 80 homes on former greenbelt land to the rear of 45 to 63 London Road.
The site is allocated within the adopted borough local plan (AL39), which earmarks multiple sites for thousands of new homes to meet the Royal Borough’s future economic and population growth.
Residents said at the meeting on Monday, October 31, that the scheme will have a “detrimental” impact on their way of life, claiming the local schools and GP services are oversubscribed as is, it will increase air pollution, traffic, and vehicle accidents, flooding, and its impact on climate change.
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Anxieties surrounding the application were so high that calls were made that developments should be temporarily suspended until the infrastructure issues within the village are resolved in order to cope with the future homeowners.
Datchet parish council chairman, Cllr David Buckley, said: “I am for development, but it shouldn’t happen until the infrastructure is done and all the things that concern us as people who live here are sorted out because all that is happening here is that we’re being forced out of this village and all the people who can afford to leave will leave.
“My concern is what are we, as a village, left with? And I would like for people to stay and fight and make sure that these types of things are put in place.”
Road safety was the “number one” concern at the meeting – with residents and councillors citing the three fatal crashes at the adjacent Riding Court Road and the M4 closures that gridlocked Datchet.
Meanwhile, Cllr Ewan Larcombe said this proposal will make a “bad situation worse” and will have a “consequential and cumulative negative impact” on the residents’ quality of life.
A bypass through the site to Slough Road was proposed and went out for public consultation in 2019 to ease congestion along London Road. The idea was even considered as far back in 1970.
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Cllr Larcombe added the 80 homes plan will effectively block the proposed bypass if the scheme is approved.
Cllr Monika Davies said the 80 homes plan can’t happen on a “sensible level,” but suggested the site is “ideal” for a solar farm to help power up the village.
Residents were urged to put their views on the application via the council’s planning portal using reference code 22/02737/FULL.
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