Responding to the recent government consultation on the issue, Reading Green Party are supporting the Kennet Valley Preservation Association and have called on the government to drop the Kennet Valley Park development from the South East Plan.

They are concerned about the massive risks involved with building on a flood plain. They also say that plans would be disastrous for the local population and wildlife.

Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for Reading West Adrian Windisch said:

"Along with Kennet Valley Preservation we‘ve consistently opposed this disaster of a development and other plans to build on flood plains in the area. I think we won the argument on this issue a long time ago, now the government is slowly catching up and it looks like we may win the campaign."

"Of course, not building on flood plains will stop us from making the problem worse. But much more needs to be done to tackle climate change so that we do not see more and more extreme weather events, rising sea levels and therefore worse flooding in the future. In this regard, the government is failing miserably by building more roads, supporting airport expansion and giving only half-hearted support to the renewable energy industry. Only when climate emissions are significantly slashed, will the long-term interest of communities across the UK be truly safe from flooding."

Green Euro MP for the South East Caroline Lucas added: "Despite endless mentions of sustainability, air quality and environmental protection, residents of the South East are far from confident that the SE Plan, of which Kennet Valley Park is part, will do much for their quality of life."

"I have always argued that letting the South East be the economic engine for the rest of the UK is short-sighted, so I will be continuing to help local communities fight over development, be it in the shape of housing, mega sheds or more roads. I am now writing to the European Commission about the SE Plan, arguing that it does not fully comply with EU requirements around assessing the impact of development. Keep an eye on the constituency pages of my website - www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk - for the Commissioner’s response."

ENDS

Notes for the Editor

1. For more information please contact Rob White on 07985 923938 or 0118 950 4062.

2. Greater Reading Strategic Development Area (Kennet Valley Park) consultation response

Reading Green Party welcomes and supports the Government’s announcement made by the Minister for the South East, Jonathan Shaw, on 17th July 2008, to remove the 7,500 houses planned for Kennet Valley Park from the South East Plan.

We object to Greater Reading Strategic Development Area (Kennet Valley Park) because:

Much of the site lies in functional flood plain. Development there is thus contrary to the advice of The Environment Agency and DEFRA who have expressed grave concerns that the development will place houses in the surrounding area and in Central Reading at increased risk of flooding. This is particularly dangerous at a time when research by Sir Michael Pitt has revealed that the risk of flooding, in any event, continues to escalate making events that shattered so many communities last year and caused so much devastation, an ever increasing threat.
To permit the development would be contrary to planning policy guidance (PPS 25) and flout the agreement between the Government and Association of British Insurers, which ensures flood insurance remains widely available now and in the long term, by placing houses at risk of being unsaleable, uninsurable and uninhabitable.
The site contains a number of landfill sites, which contain hazardous waste. To disturb these sites without proper management could result in our drinking water being contaminated. Further, to relocate this waste is not in accordance with the Government’s policy to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
It will destroy designated wildlife areas, nationally important for winter Gadwall, internationally important for Lesser Black-backed Gull, regionally important for Nightingales and many Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species.
The infrastructure of the area is completely inadequate to sustain the development. In particular, the roads would struggle to cope under the strain of many thousands of extra vehicles at peak travel time.
The sheer size of the development would destroy any quality of life for residents already living in the area who would have to endure 20 – 25 years of building works during which time residents would be exposed to a truck movement every five minutes and also excessive noise and air pollution and dust and dirt.
Development of the site would also deprive residents of much of south and west Reading of an important recreation facility, which benefits local walkers, naturalists and anglers.

If you require any more information on any of these points please contact rob@readinggreenparty.org.uk or 0118 950 4062.