to build a new pipeline. Developers wanted to replace their old pipe works with a new one, connecting it from the racecourse’s reservoir, across the Royal Ascot Golf Club, and to the Great Pond. Liz Pattinson, the head of property at Ascot Racecourse, pleaded with members on the Royal Borough Development Management Panel to approve their “fundamental” plans. She feared the old, leaky pipes can no longer pump enough water to their reservoir to support the site and will impact their 2021 Covid-19 recovery plans. With more hot dry summers happening, the ground needs to be irrigated and if it’s not done to a satisfying level, Ms Pattinson said: “The ground will become too firm and will affect our field sizes.
. After the Conservative cabinet agreed to lobby Government to raise council tax past the five per cent cap back in October, the Borough First (TBF) Independent group announced they are campaigning for residents to have a say on that. Three per cent is the adult social care precept set by Government, but a further increase of the two per cent in council tax will have to go to a local referendum. The Conservatives’ proposed draft 2021/22 budget, which is subject to public consultation, seeks to increase council tax by five per cent as well as cutting and ‘transforming’ services in order to save around £8 million – and more in later years – due to Covid-19 and past financial mismanagement.