Local MEP James Elles joined Alok Sharma, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Reading West, and local campaigners Joan Lawrie and John Betteridge at the Pincents Hill site on Thursday 12 February to lend his support and learn more about the campaign to stop development at Pincents Hill.

After the visit James Elles said: “I give my wholehearted support to this campaign after listening to Alok, Joan and John. It is absolutely clear that the vast majority of local people just do not want this development as it will put massive pressure on exiting traffic and public services as well as ruining a lovely green space which is likely to have a big environmental impact.”

James continued: “Forcing unsustainable developments onto local communities in the South East appears to be a sad feature of current Government policy and we really need to have some fresh thinking with new homes being built in a manner that protects the environment and provides the infrastructure to support local communities. Local people need to have a say in where new homes should go instead of unsustainable development being imposed onto local communities.”

Alok Sharma commented: “As our recent Pincents Hill Survey demonstrated, the full results of which can be viewed at www.readingwestconservatives.com, the vast majority of local people are completely opposed to this development and the campaign to save Pincents Hill is gathering momentum. We understand that the developer Blue Living will most likely submit a planning application during March and local residents must be ready to come out in full force against Blue Living’s plans.”

Save Pincents Hill campaigner Joan Lawrie said: “We are delighted with all the support we are getting in our campaign to stop any development and many thanks to James Elles for meeting with us today. Once an application is submitted we will hold a large public meeting to inform local residents how they can register their objections and in order to send a loud and clear message to the developers we will need as many people as possible to write to West Berkshire Council to object.”

Local resident and campaigner John Betteridge added: “We are constantly updating our website www.savecalcot.co.uk with new information so please visit the site regularly. Unless we are all prepared to play our part in rejecting any development at Pincents Hill we will lose this beautiful green space for future generations and that cannot be allowed to happen.”

Photo: Local MEP James Elles, Alok Sharma, John Betteridge and Joan Lawrie at Pincents Hill.