MORE than 1,000 people have objected to plans for a large residential build that has become symbolic of the town's battle with developers.

Public consultation finished yesterday (October 24) on part of a proposal to erect 250 homes east of Finchampstead Road.

Since March 564 letters were sent to Wokingham Borough Council from residents expressing their displeasure at a build many think will overload the already busy road and encroach on a patch of countryside separating the town from Bracknell.

A further 391 comments were made on rejected plans to turn the land into a Suitable Alternative natural greenspace, which developers Gladmans is currently appealing.

Spearheading the anti-build campaign is Chris Benham, an engineering consultant from Hart Dyke Close who has installed protest posters and collected more than 350 signatures on a rejection letter destined for the council.

" In the last five years how many houses have gone up?" the 56 year-old, who discovered part of Finchampstead Road exceeded the legal limit of pollution levels by 20 per cent.

"The infrastructure is not there. I have been here for 32 years but I think I will probably move out soon. The traffic is horrendous."

Amongst the many other objections are concerns about Wokingham becoming an urban sprawl.

Pauline Smith wrote: "Due to the enormous estates which are being built to the east, north and west of Wokingham, meaning that the town is becoming part of the Urban Sprawl between Reading and Bracknell and beyond, it is important that the council maintain some green spaces."

Councillor David Lee has taken aim at Gladmans, accusing it of taking advantage of Wokingham's need to build thousands of homes by 2026, a need exasperated by slow moving developers with planning applications already granted.

"Developers like Gladmans come along and approach people that own land and say 'Wokingham isn't building fast enough and we can build more houses'," the deputy leader said. "They are trying to build houses on a site that has not been subject to assessment, will cause horrendous traffic and they just don't care.

"We are talking to the secretary of state about it at a forthcoming meeting. The PM is fully aware being the MP for one of the four boroughs affected.

"To say I'm annoyed at Gladman's is an understatement. They are exploiting a loop hole in the law and they don't care. They just take the money."

A council spokesperson commented: “Wokingham Borough Council refused a Gladman Development application for a SANG at land east of Finchampstead Road on July 17 this year. "Gladman has appealed against this refusal and the appeal process is ongoing.

"We cannot comment of timings of appeals as these are controlled by the Planning Inspectorate but we are not aware on any delay in this case.”

Gladmans was contacted for comment.