Tilehurst plan for 80 homes discussed in closed meeting

Neighbours and contractors have clashed since September over the prospect of homes being built at woodland areas located immediately east of the Tilehurst Allotments.

The land is owned by the Tilehurst People’s Local Charity (TPLC) which wants to sell the woodland sites to a developer, who could build 41-62 in Kentwood Hill and 12-18 homes in Armour Hill.

But the prospect of homes being built has led to a bitter dispute, with Trustees of the charity refusing to attend a public meeting organised Labour Kentwood councillors Glenn Dennis and Mark Keeping.

This led to public claims the trustees are ‘scared of the people of Tilehurst’.

But last week, a closed meeting took place where a list of 31 questions that were put to TPLC were answered.

READ MORE: Questions to Tilehurst charity raised over potential 80 home development

Explaining the reason why they didn’t attend the public meeting, the Trustees said: “The charity told the two Kentwood councillors that, prior to a planning application being submitted, a public meeting would serve no useful purpose.

“The charity asked for a private meeting instead – to ensure that councillors were properly informed, and to dispel the incorrect and misleading statements being disseminated by those objecting to any development.”

The trustees went on to question why the meeting went ahead when the organisers knew the charity would not attend.

TPLC has also declined alternative proposals for use of the woodland.

Trustees said: “Having taken professional advice, the charity has made the firm and final decision to sell part of its land as being in the best interests of the charity and its beneficiaries.”

They also stated they are ‘legally required’ to put the relief of poverty above all other considerations, as that is the charity’s ‘sole purpose’.

Campaigners have urged TPLC to find a ‘greener way’ of generating income for the charity.

he Tilehurst allotments viewed from Armour Hill. Credit: Chris Collard Creative Commons Licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

But TPLC has argued that the sale of the land will generate a significant amount of money that it could not hope to make by any other means.

Furthermore, the trustees stated that its revenue is much lower than The Earley Charity which has similar functions and an average of £1 million per annum.

By contrast, the Trustees said TPLC has an income of around £20,000 a year.

A full list of answers can be found on TPLC’s website.

The meeting was organised by Alok Sharma, the Conservative MP for Reading West, and attended by councillors Keeping and Raj Singh (Conservative, Kentwood) and James Moore (Liberal Democrats, Tilehurst).

It was also attended by trustees Collin Cairns, chairman, Reverend Dr Liz Ratcliffe, an ‘ex-officio’ Trustree and Giles Winter – and took place on Friday, November 25.

Pete Evans, Tilehurst Parish Council’s nominee as a TPLC trustee, was refused entry to the meeting.