By engaging in our democracy, we can make our views heard and influence government at a local and national level.
We can vote in local and national elections, write to our MP and local councillors, take part in government consultations, sign petitions, and attend demonstrations, council meetings, etc.
People place a huge value on their local greenspace for the benefit of everyone living in the community. They value the wildlife habitats and biodiversity, and the physical and mental health and wellbeing benefits provided. They value the opportunity greenspace provides for recreation and for fighting the worst effects of climate change – for water capture, shade, tree planting and biodiversity.
But sadly, at the moment it looks like democracy isn’t working when it comes to saving our greenspace here in Maidenhead.
For 63 years our council protected this greenspace
Maidenhead Golf Course was purchased by the mayor, Cllr T.A. Stuchberry in 1953. The action was ‘To prevent this land falling into the hands of those less concerned about its future than local people’. The land was then offered to the council, who took the same view that this land was scheduled as open space, and that public ownership was the best way of ensuring that it remained an open space.
But by 2016, the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead (RBWM), had put the golf course land into its draft Borough Local Plan, and started negotiations with the golf club to get them to leave their lease early. Maidenhead Golf Club is this year celebrating its 125th anniversary and its lease runs until 2039.
Local people have been objecting for years
Ever since RBWM started consulting on their local plan, local people have objected to the destruction of the green belt land of the golf course. Thirteen local groups, including Braywick Action Group, worked together to challenge the Borough Local Plan. In consultations, they explained time and time again the value of the space to the community for wildlife, recreation and as a green lung, absorbing harmful pollution from local roads and motorways.
The Maidenhead Great Park campaign began during the first lockdown in March 2020, when many local people discovered the beauty of the golf course parkland and understood what they were set to lose.
Conservative councillors voted against our motion to save this greenspace
Our petition calling on our council to save the greenspace of the golf course has 4,448 signatures – a significant number of local voters. But when we took it to the vote at the full council meeting held on 2 March, 20 local councillors (all Conservative) voted to develop the space, while 19 opposition councillors voted for our motion to keep the space green.
The many people in Maidenhead who have engaged in democratic processes to try and save this space, have so far failed to persuade our council to listen. Our council and our local MP, keep telling us we need the housing and there’s plenty of greenspace in the borough.
Selling off the family silver
Our council has made a deal with a developer (CALA Homes) to develop the golf course land with over 2,000 dwellings. We understand they have agreed a large sum so they can off their debts. This short sighted view will solve some immediate financial issues, but it’s selling off one of our most important community assets, and in turn creating more problems for the future.
Our council isn’t listening to the people of Maidenhead who have repeatedly told them they want this space to stay green.
Our council hasn’t correctly valued this greenspace for our community and for our children – who can’t vote and can’t sign council petitions. Their silence is not their consent.
Once this greenspace is gone, we can’t get it back. And there’s plenty of brownfield sites available to build on instead, if indeed all these new homes are really needed.
Will those in power be prepared to answer for their decisions when our children ask why bulldozers are tearing up their greenspace?