News

Great crested newts, adders, grass snakes and badgers have all been discovered living near the Blue Mountain Golf Course in Wood Lane, Binfield.
advertisement

Protected species may save Blue Mountain Golf Course from development

By Hugh Fort
May 08, 2012

Amphibians, snakes and badgers are giving hope to campaigners desperate to save a golf course earmarked for housing in Binfield.

Great crested newts, adders, grass snakes and badgers have all been discovered living near the Blue Mountain Golf Course in Wood Lane, Binfield.

They are all protected species and strict planning laws protect their habitats.

Members of the Northern Arc Action Group (NAAG) are hoping to halt Bracknell Forest Council’s plans to build 400 homes, two schools and a new ground for Bracknell Town Football Club on the golf club, under its Site Allocations Development Plan Document (SADPD).

New planning laws give hope to housing campigners

NAAG chairman Nigel Rennie said: “We’re very excited at the discovery of these rare and protected animals.

'Don't bulldoze Blue Moutain Golf Club'

“They have been found close to the golf course and people who know what they’re talking about say it’s extremely likely they live on the golf course itself.

“We think it’s a virtual zoo down there so we’re exploring whether we could apply to have it turned into a Special Protection Area with very strict development rules.”

However, the council says surveys have been carried out on the land and plans to protect ‘important’ species would be put into any development plans.

Max Baker, the council’s head of spatial policy, said: “An ecological survey was carried out at Blue Mountain as part of the SADPD process.

“This identified the golf course site as largely amenity grassland which is regularly mown and offers little shelter or foraging for wildlife.

“A number of ponds and wet ditches within the site which could provide habitat were also noted. The infrastructure delivery plan requires the protection of such habitats on the Blue Mountain site.

“As development proposals are progressed, further ecological surveys will be required, including surveys of all ponds within 500 metres of any development area. Appropriate protection of any important species will be built into any development proposals.”

The plans are part of the council’s SADPD, which also proposes another 400 homes in Amen Corner in Binfield, as well as 2,000 homes in Warfield and 1,000 homes on the former Transport Research Laboratory site in Crowthorne.

| View Comments (5)

« Previous Story | Next Story »

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Most recent user comments 5 of 5

This newspaper or NAG should organise a local referendum on the project.I would lay odds the answer would be "NO".Then get Dr Lee involved and point out that his wonderful Government want locals to have a say in proposed developments...."localism".Then see what those in charge say to this exercise in democracy.

DrBChing
11/05/2012 at 08:32

Frankly, in my view, the more golf courses they build on the better.

What with the proposed development of TRL I can almost envisage a glorious new urban settlement - let's call it Bracknell Ride and it can have a central cycle path that links Hanworth and Great Hollands with Crowthorne. They already have the test track there so the motorists of Bracknell will feel right at home.

What a golden new dawn Bracknell will wake up to.................

Winstanley, Bracknell
09/05/2012 at 10:37

Winstanley- and the council own the land so haven't got to pay over the odds for it- I like your thought.

Wobbly Bob
08/05/2012 at 15:17

Never understood why they never considered Downshire Golf Club - ideal spot for some houses and it's got a primary and secondary school on it's doorstep!

Winstanley, Bracknell
08/05/2012 at 14:52

Sod the badgers, we don't need more over priced, under financed housing. Don't use animals as an excuse to stop development when the development is wrong in the first place. p.s. rumours of an albatross there at the weekend still to be confirmed :)