24th August 2006
The Ascot area has seen an explosion in development in the last few years, particularly in blocks of apartments. In fact, in 24 months 60 individual houses in the district have been demolished and replaced with some 500 flats.
Unfortunately, most of these have been out of the reach of the people we need to work here: teachers, nurses, police and so forth.
The effect on the local infrastructure has meant:
So much development has taken place that the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has already reached its target for new dwellings. Those parts of Ascot in Bracknell Forest face similar pressure.
Many local residents have complained about the excessive amount of building. Now is the time to do something about it and join SPAE, the Society for the Protection of Ascot.
SPAE has a team in each of the parishes in the area-Sunninghill & Ascot, Sunningdale and Winkfield- which monitors every single planning application.
We are not opposed to all development, and most of the planning applications are just for run-of-the-mill extensions, conservatories, etc.
But some involve building in the Green Belt, or threaten to destroy the character of the area, or would have a detrimental effect on neighbours.
These we oppose, or make constructive suggestions for changes to the plans to make them more acceptable.
Our officers attend parish Council meetings and Borough Council planning panels to make SPAE's voice heard. Where applications go to appeal we make further representations.
In support of this work we hold a database of every planning application made in our area since 1991- over 6,400.
SPAE has been working to protect the Ascot area from excessive development since 1971, and has around 1,300 members. Most of the local residents' associations are affiliated. To speak with maximum authority we need as many individual members as possible. Please join us.