Published: Sunday, 6th July, 2008 1:00pm

Developers blocked by council

by Mike Greenshields

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A MAJOR housing development site remains landlocked after politicians threw out plans for a vital access road to hundreds of new homes through a small residential street.

Slough Borough Council's planning committee refused developer Kelobridge's proposals of knocking down four homes it owns on the Castleview estate to gain the access it needs to construct new homes off Upton Court Park, Slough.

The latest application, which was heard on Tuesday evening, had planned to reduce the original 300 home build, which it already has planning permission for, to either 210 or 260 to accommodate the crucial road.

Upton Cllr Julia Long said: "I can't believe anyone would think of gaining access through Castleview - it defies belief.

"It will be more dangerous on the street, raise noise pollution. The volume of traffic will be immense and out way any advantages of extra housing. It is painful that developers can think about doing this with no concern for people."

This comes after Kelobridge has been unsuccessful in securing an access road to the proposed homes through its prefer option of building a road on a strip of land off Upton Court Park, worth £7m.

The stretch of land, which has been dubbed ‘random strip', is currently protected by a covenant but was taken out of Upton Court Park to allow the council to begin the process off selling it off.

The news outraged resident Richard Sabel, 59, who launched a judicial review to put the land back into Upton Court Park. In the latest twist the council is due to reverse this and return the land back to the park during it' Cabinet meeting on Monday evening because officers believe they will lose the legal battle if it goes to the courts.

A council document for the upcoming meeting, said: "The Cabinet is requested to note the issue of the Judicial Review proceedings and the likelihood of success.

"The Cabinet resolves to revoke the decision to appropriate the access land from open space to planning purpose."

Bosses from Kelobride did not attend the meeting and refused to comment.