Parish council requests conditions on Waltham woodland plan
Dozens of villagers attended a heated meeting in Waltham St Lawrence last night to discuss proposals for a 12-acre woodland and a potential new gypsy site.
Plans have been put forward to plant 6,400 saplings on a 13-acre grassland site in Shurlock Row that was bought by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in 2009.
The remaining acre has been earmarked as a possible extension to the Pool Lane traveller site as part of the borough's requirement to create six new pitches for families on a waiting list.
The plans form part of the Woodland Trust's national scheme to create new woodland in every borough as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations next year.
The trust will fund the trees and £40,000 of developer contributions would be used to create walkways and a car park.
The parish council, who met at Neville Hall in Milley Road, said the plans are a 'bribe' to home more travellers in the village.
Parish council chairman Cllr Clive Scott-Hopkins said: "It is almost like a bribe in that we can have the woodland but we've got to accept part of the land being allocated for more travellers.
"We already have nine pitches in the parish. Many residents and the council feel we have done our part."
Councillors unanimously agreed to only accept the proposals if all 13-acres are planted. The plans are yet to be discussed by the Royal Borough.
