Kennet Valley Park ? temporary withdrawal of Planning Application

The following message has been sent to interested parties by Prudential?s advisers:

??Prudential has withdrawn the planning applications recently submitted to West Berkshire Council, Reading Borough Council and Wokingham District Council for its Kennet Valley Park development in order to allow time for further consideration of some of the issues raised by local people and interest groups in consultation. The local authorities and other statutory and non-statutory stakeholders have been informed of this decision. Amended applications will be submitted early in 2007.

We have looked carefully at the responses received by the local authorities and we feel that it is important to address the concerns raised. Given the nature and scale of the applications we feel that it would be helpful to have a further opportunity to explain our proposals to stakeholders, particularly in relation to the concerns most frequently raised –

ecology, the proposed flood alleviation scheme and aspects of traffic management relating to Burghfield Road and the A4 adjacent to Junction 12.??This of course, means the Prudential will now try to address the concerns in advance to reduce the number and breadth of objections to its application. In the next few days the objections of ROC, RSPB and BBOWT will be placed on the ROC website for members to read if they wish. Further work is ongoing with other wildlife bodies. The ROC will keep in touch with these matters and will continue to represent the interests of members and wildlife in the area. If any members or interested parties wish to influence our comments they are welcome to advise Colin Wilson on 01252 837411 or by email at colin.wilson@theroc.org.uk

Colin Wilson –

2 November 2006