FRUSTRATED councillors have slammed developers for failing to follow through on a number of promises made to preserve an area of ancient woodland.

Redhatch Copse is due to be handed over from Wokingham Borough Council to Earley Town Council (ETC), but Persimmon Homes promised to deliver improvements to the site before the handover was completed.

Earley councillors say they feel helpless in being unable to influence the speed of the project and refuse to accept ownership of the land until changes have been made.

Pauline Jorgensen, a councillor for both the borough and town council, said the quality of work already carried out by developers is a ‘poor advert’ for the area.

“I am very frustrated that they have not already finished the work. They have been making promises for more than two years. I was told the works would be completed by the end of June and that has been been and gone.

“There have been problems ever since the development started. It is a poor advert for Earley and a major national developer and the quality of the landscaping to date has been inadequate.”

While developers have built all of the new homes on the former Sibley Hall site, the erection of fences and landscaping remain among the council’s key concerns.

A spokesperson for ETC said: “We have agreed to take over the management of this area, but only when it is in a fit state to be transferred.

“Despite the efforts by the council staff and officers from Wokingham Borough Council to persuade Persimmon Homes to ensure that the work is complete, deadlines are continually ignored.”

As well as the removal of woodland and erection of new fences, councillors also believe wheelchair users will be unable to enjoy the site unless further landscaping is carried out.

A spokesperson for Persimmon Homes added: “The company is awaiting a plan agreeing the areas to be transferred to ETC and soon after the completion of the transfer the town council’s management responsibilities will commence.

“We anticipate these works will be completed in the next three weeks, enabling the transfer to progress.”