MOTORWAY VIEW (accessed via Riding Court Road, Datchet)
Work has commenced on the construction of the new housing development in Datchet . The 80+ mixed development is sandwiched into a small parcel of agricultural land bounded by London Road, Riding Court Road and the M4 Motorway.
Despite numerous concerns and objections during the planning phase – this development was recommended under the previous Conservative administration and approved by means of the adopted RBWM Borough Local Plan. Groundworks commenced in December 2024 and hoarding was erected at the Riding Court Road entrance.
This site has outstanding views of the nearby M4 Motorway (and vehicle yard) accompanied by noise and air pollution particularly when the wind is blowing from the North. This pollution is exacerbated by the newly created and totally inappropriate transport and vehicle yard crammed onto the highway verge in between the motorway and Riding Court Road.
The light pollution from the motorway at night will be apparent throughout the year and obscuring the sky at night but very helpful when it comes to fly tipping into the field nearby after dark. (Note the newly planted trees).
At times Motorway View (my name for the new development) may be difficult or impossible to enter into or exit from the site in a vehicle due to the stationary traffic on overloaded adjacent roads. There will be occasions when getting near the site will be impossible – for example – when the M4 is stationary. Even two recent fatal accidents nearby on London Road and one on Riding Court Road have not justified expenditure on any local highway improvements. Previous proposals for a Datchet bypass remain unsupported and unfunded by the Authorities. In fact any possibility of a Datchet bypass has now been permanently blocked by this development. I have lived here for nearly 50 years and 20 years before that in the adjacent village. I have witnessed incremental, unstoppable and overwhelming development – most of which is detrimental to the area. How bad do the conditions have to become before somebody does something? I have not yet detailed the issues of flooding, aircraft noise, doctors, schools or public transport. When will the Authorities firstly take notice of the problems and secondly take any appropriate action? Today the authorities have no money and are about to increase the Council Tax again – but could it be they just don’t care – or is it both?
The camel’s back was broken decades ago – but here comes yet another straw. Welcome to our new development here in Datchet – Motorway View.
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This proposed development was objected to by the Datchet Residents and the Datchet Parish Council on a number grounds which related to risks to existing properties and to total incompatibility with housing surrounding the site.
Question, Is this out of scale development based on the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s stated intention to move immigrants ,illegal and otherwise into housing using green belt land, thereby vacating hotels and saving central Government money at the expense of council precept payers. See Govt costs and strategy.
Some example Items of Objection from the full list.
Flooding , the site is zone 2 and Part zone 3.
Flooding, run off from the site potentially could raise existing houses in zone2 into zone 3 risk.
Flooding, the proposed run off catchment system is diverted into a zone 3 pre flooded location.
Site Access , is in a recorded dangerous location and insufficient for generated traffic and access for emergency vehicles including evacuation requirements.
Pollution, the site location puts proposed residents into air , noise, and light pollution A significant health hazard relating to density without offset remedial dispersal actions in an area that fails to currently comply with national standards.
Social, the increased population cannot be catered for in existing medical and school facilities which are currently overextended especially medical, as Datchet Medical centre caters also for Wraysbury and Horton communities.
Having made objection, the Datchet Parish Council have a suggested rethink of housing within the site ,and numbers that would mitigate many of the objections and would be acceptable to local residents. this scheme has been outlined with professional input and should not be ignored without consideration.
Before a spade is put into the ground , it is suggested that the developers look at the resident’s proposals and work with the community instead of against it.