ROUNDUP: Councillors told not to be 'emotive' when discussing planning applications as two refused

This came after councillors had already refused one controversial planning application before voting to refuse another a short while later.

Speaking about a disputed application for extensions at the rear and side of a house in Westbrook Close, Bracknell, Councillor Colin Dudley, the planning committee chairman, said: “We can’t be emotive, and planning is an emotive issue.

“We have to deal with policy.”

The application received ten objections from neighbours, who were concerned with the impact of the extension on the character of the area.

Paul Collier, from a neighbouring property to 16 Westbrook Close, said: “This application would have an adverse impact on number 15 and 17. There would be a major loss of privacy at neighbouring properties.”

However an agent for the application said: “I don’t believe that any of the development will be overbearing on the other properties.”

Cllr Peter Heydon voiced his concerns on the proposal after paying the site a visit last week, saying he was “really uncomfortable that the architectural symmetry of the site is “going to be destroyed.”

Cllr Robert Angell reinforced Cllr Heydon’s worries, saying: “Westbrook Gardens is unique in Bracknell. All the properties there are semi-detached, which is unique for a new town as it was. We should not be losing this uniqueness.”

Cllr Angell moved a motion to refuse the application urging his fellow councillors to “consider the majority of residents and their wishes in Westbrook Gardens.”

The application was refused after seven councillors voted to reject the application, with four voting against.

Earlier at the meeting, councillors had also refused an application to divide a house at The Green, Bracknell, in order to create two new houses.

Bracknell Town Council and eleven different residents had submitted letters of objection to the application, claiming the proposals would constitute over-development of an “already overdeveloped site”.

The application was recommended for approval but it fell down after councillors heard an impassioned plea from neighbouring resident Karen McKillen, who said: “On both planning and pragmatic grounds, your rejection will show you are prepared to make stand up for the community which should not suffer at the hands of greed.”

Before the application was voted down Cllr Peter Heydon challenged a conservation officer’s view that the new build would “not adversely affect the setting of the Point Royal listed building”.

The site is within the Easthampstead Conservation Area, and it was one of the first conservation areas in the UK to encompass modern buildings which were part of the creation of Bracknell New Town.

A report read: “The area is valued for its place in social history as part of the ‘new town movement’ and as a relatively complete example of such a new town and its architectural quality.

“The listed building of Point Royal, located opposite the site, is a focal point of the conservation area.”

Councillor Robert Angell said if he “was a resident next door I would not like to see umpteen more HMOs (house in multiple occupation) come along.”

Cllr Dudley moved a motion to approve the application but it was not seconded, meaning Cllr Heydon submitted a motion to refuse the proposals.

The application was refused shortly after.

Despite the two refusals at the start of the meeting, two other applications were approved.

An application for the building of three houses and a chalet bungalow following the demolition of an existing dwelling at Sunnymead, Jocks Lane, Bracknell, received the support from a majority of councillors, despite six letters of objection being received.

McDonald’s on Wildridings Road also saw its application for a new drive-thru booth approved.

An application for a new multi-use games area from Ranelagh School and Bracknell Town FC was deferred for a later planning meeting after officers decided more information was needed.