Our Campaign
CYO Seeds has submitted a plan relating to land opposite Nightingale Farm in Wantage Road, Leckhampstead, to develop agricultural barns to accommodate a workshop, office and vehicle storage for its agricultural seed processing business. The plan includes a dwelling for workers, together with seasonal worker accommodation, solar panels an external lighting. You can view the plan, reference 23/02913/FULMAJ, here.
We believe the site to be wholly unsuitable for industrial development and have commissioned a report which identifies some 40 alternative sites more fitting for the plans (you can download the full report here).
Concerns
The site lies in the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. If this development were to be allowed by West Berkshire Council we are concerned that:
- It would cause light pollution in a unspoilt, rural Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
- It would increase the number of traffic movements along the road, creating a danger to motorists. This has already been flagged by West Berkshire Council’s Highways Department
- It would set a precedent for further development in the area in the future
We have identified 40 different sites in the nearby area which would be more suitable for this kind development.
What we’re doing
Local farmer John Duffield, who owns land to the north and east of the proposed site, is urging people across the area to save this site from development.
He has commissioned several expert reports into the impact of the development will have on the area, which you can read and download them using the following links:
What you can do
If you value this area of unspoilt English countryside and want to save it from development, we urge you to get involved in the campaign to prevent it from going ahead. You can:
- Write to West Berkshire Council objecting to the plan
- Contact the Downlands Ward councillor Clive Hooker
- Write to our local MP, Laura Farris
- Join our Facebook page
- Join our Facebook group
- Sign our Change.org petition here
- Get in touch and join the campaign
- Like and share our posts
