Make Kennet Meadows a Trust once and for all

Your local Labour councillors have successfully campaigned for over 25 years to save the Kennet Meadows from the development of over 7.500 homes and flats by the Prudential.

With the support of local residents, fearful of widespread flooding, faced by other towns and cities, the Environment Agency, cross party support including councillors from West Berkshire and local environmentalists we have been able to save the meadows from development. Southcote and Minster Labour councillors successfully lobbied the Government to persuade them to take out the Kennet Meadows from the South East Plan for housing development.

However, the Prudential are soon to publish future plans for any development on the meadows. Clearly they are waiting and hoping for a change of Government in order for them to revitalise their plans for development.

Strangely the Tories have been silent on whether they either support or oppose development on Kennet Meadows, indeed when pressed by local residents in the local media the Tories did not mention their views, or whether they opposed development. One can only presume that the Tories cannot commit to opposition as the Tory MP for West Berkshire owns a large parcel of land close to the meadow.

Both Naz Sarkar, Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Reading West and Labour Councillors can totally commit to Southcote and Minster residents that we will categorically oppose any development on the Kennet Meadows and we will continue to successfully against any plans to build houses on the flood plains. Not here a Carlisle or a Workington, but a town free from flooding by the Kennet. We have launched a petition to save the meadows and turn it into a trust to be enjoyed by the wildlife and residents of Reading. Please e-mail me at john.ennis@reading.gov.uk if you want to sign the petition.

Please remember that it is only a vote for Labour that will permanently save the meadows.