CAMPAIGNERS hoping to stop development on Blue Mountain Golf Club held a protest before a charity fundraiser on Saturday.

A small group of people gathered outside the club, in Wood Lane, Binfield, ahead of Bracknell Forest Mayor Cllr Jan Angell’s fundraising event for Thames Hospice.

Cllr Angell chaired the full council meeting earlier this year when councillors voted in favour of removing a legal covenant protecting the site from development, thereby paving the way for 400 homes, an education village and a new football stadium.

Lis Casey, from the Save Blue Mountain group, said the group did not wish to upset the fundraiser but wanted to raise awareness of the future of the site.

She said: “It did what we wanted it to do. We attended because we are fighting to keep the golf course, for its open space, its fantastic golfing facilities, but also the variety of other activities it offers people from Bracknell and much further beyond. We had more than 2,600 signatures asking the councillors to save Blue Mountain, which they [the council] chose to ignore.

“There are many, many charity fundraising events held at Blue Mountain throughout the year, and those valuable charities, including Thames Valley Hospice, stand to suffer from the loss of this fantastic place which enables people to raise much needed income through the events it can hold there.

“No other conferencing facility in the area provides such a large, flexible space to hold events while providing such a friendly and professional service and at reasonable costs.” She said that each of the protesters donated £5 to Thames Hospice.

Cllr Angell confirmed the campaigners had not caused any problems and said her fundraising event had been a “huge success”.

She said: “I don’t know what the finished amount was but we raised more than £900 from the raffle and a silent auction.

“We had a lot of people saying what a great night it was.” Thames Hospice helps people suffering from life-ending illnesses and their families.