A PLANNING inquiry is to be held into plans for 1,000 new homes on farmland which inspired Watership Down amid major opposition - including from its author before his death. Developers have been trying to build on Sandleford Park near Newbury since it was allocated for development in 2012 with five failed applications so far. In the iconic novel, rabbits flee Sandleford Warren, which is about to be destroyed by bulldozers. And in a real-life echo of the fictional children s classic, protesters have been fighting development and said protected habitats and ancient woodlands would be at risk if it was allowed to go ahead.
Sandleford Watership Down house-building inquiry opens
Published
image captionLinks to the novel Watership Down featured at an exhibition of the plans
Plans to build 1,000 new homes on farmland featured in the novel Watership Down will be debated at a planning inquiry.
Developers are appealing against West Berkshire District Council s decision to refuse the Sandleford Park scheme.
There have been five failed applications since the area was allocated for development by the authority in 2012.
Protesters have said protected habitats and ancient woodlands would be at risk.
Watership Down author Richard Adams campaigned in 2011 against developing what he called the most beautiful area south of Newbury .
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Reading Magistrates Court: Nine in court over Kintbury solar panel ‘scam’
Prosecutor claims villagers targetted in £17m fraud scheme
John Garvey
Villagers in Kintbury were allegedly targetted in a £17m solar panels scam.
The prosecution alleges the defendants – traders from ESE Group Ltd and ESE Services Ltd, based in Sprint Way, Liverpool – used “harassment, coercion or undue influence” to sell solar panel equipment and bogus services.
On Friday, nine men appeared for a preliminary hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court following an investigation involving West Berkshire Council trading standards officers.
Among them was 44-year-old company director Gary Fredson, who faces 12 charges of knowingly or recklessly engaging in a commercial practice.