Bracknell

The Whitegrove/Quelm Park and Amen Corner areas of Bracknell could be the focus for most of the borough's housing development over the next 20 years.

People there would face the lion's share of Bracknell building, while North Ascot and Winkfield would be protected from major development.

These plans are among proposals the Bracknell borough council is promoting.

However, Bracknell Cllr Robert McLean, who represents Whitegrove/Quelm Park, said: "We have to resist development which detracts from the nature of the area, which is semi-rural. I am against incremental infilling."

Binfield ward councillor Ian Leake, who represents Amen Corner, said: "There is no objection to housing development. The only problem would be the number and type of housing."

The proposals include up to 2,500 homes, a neighbourhood centre and schools on land north of Whitegrove and Quelm Park, with up to 650 homes, a railway halt and a primary school at Amen Corner in Bracknell.

Cllr Mary Ballin said: "Some of our choices are a case of 'do you want to be hung or shot?'. We're having figures thrust upon us. It's a war already.

"The policy of this council is to fight high numbers of houses and we will ask residents to help us win."

If the blueprint worries people in Bracknell, it will come as a relief to those in North Ascot and Winkfield.

Alarm bells had been ringing among those who say the Ascot area has had enough new building.

A recent consultation revealed a developers' wish list, which included potential sites for hundreds of houses at Winkfield Triangle and the Rough, behind New Road, North Ascot. But already around 110 of the 130 sites on the list have been thrown out because they fail to comply with planning rules.

Winkfield Parish Council clerk Annemarie Edwards, warned: "We are very happy the borough plan-ners appear to have listened to the concerns of Winkfield residents.

"We are still in the middle of a long process and residents should not sit back and be complacent."

Sandra Vaughan of the North Ascot Action Group added: "This is excellent news and we are delighted. However, constraints need to be put on development in North Ascot."

ic Berkshire ~ Bracknell