Tilehurst land sale causes clash between charity and residents

Poverty relief trust Tilehurst People’s Local Charity (TPLC) want to sell land between Kentwood Hill and Armour Hill in Tilehurst to meet demand for their grants.

Members of Keep Kentwood Green opposed the sale, which could see up to 80 homes built on land they say offers refuge for wildlife in an urban area.

"I’m really worried about the loss of green space in Tilehurst,” said Jo Skidmore, 49, who lives 10 minutes’ walk from the site.

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“There has been a lot of focus on green space since the pandemic and the importance of it, especially in semi-urban areas.

“I’m worried about the loss of biodiversity which with the climate change situation at the moment is obviously an important thing.”

Jo Skidmore, from Tilehurst, Reading, said she was concerned about the loss of biodiversity in the area

She explained that walkers and the adjacent Tilehurst Allotments see foxes, badgers, owls and even dear in the area.

“Selling this space is going to lead to losing wildlife corridors and I’m not really sure what purpose it serves.”

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“In my mind it would be much more valuable to keep the land available for all the people of Tilehurst. You’d reach far more people than the small reach that their charity has.”

TPLC was set up to maintain the land among other formerly common Tilehurst areas in Tilehurst in 1811 and uses rental income or interest made on profits from previous sales to provide grants.

Frost on the green space between Kentwood Hill and Armour Hill

These grants buy cookers, washing machines, furniture and school uniforms for those who need them, as well as funding course fees and school trips.

An allotment holder, 49, who wished to remain anonymous, said she would be happy with a small block of affordable flats on the land, but said the majority should remain for the animals.

“The beauty of it being left wild is that wildlife has been allowed to increase and diversify, it’s become a really special habitat.”

A spokesperson for TPLC said: “The level of applications exceeds the money coming in, and the Charity doesn’t have the funds to consider many of the requests it receives.

“In the face of ever-increasing need the Trustees have long wanted to scale up their activities, but cannot do so unless the charity’s finances can be placed on a more sustainable footing.

“The situation becomes more pressing each year, but has a new urgency in the wake of a pandemic which has put many people’s jobs at risk, and with projected fuel price rises set to push increasing numbers into poverty.”

They continued: “The proceeds of the sale set to be invested to provide a solid income – money which will be used to help many more local people for many years to come."