St. Nicholas Hurst Parish Design Statement

A report on progress

I can hear the question being asked, "I wonder what has happened to the Parish Design Statement?" writes Howard Larkin, Chairman of the Design Group. Well, the answer is that the Second, and hopefully Final, Draft is to be published towards the end of February.

The comments that were received in September last year on the First Draft have been looked at in detail by the Parish Council's Design Group and the new draft is nearly ready. It has taken a little longer than was expected but the Group believes that it was worth the effort, particularly in view of the number of excellent suggestions made for improvement.

Once again a leaflet will be delivered to let you know when the Second Draft is available. It will be placed on the Village Society website and copies will be available in the Village Shop for you to take. All Parish Councillors and members of the Design Group will also have copies.

Please help us by telling us what you think. Hurst people are, I am glad to say, never slow to express their views and the Group looks forward to hearing them. You can contact either myself, on 0118 934 xxxx, or John Lemon on 0118 934 xxxx.

ORGANIC FARM SHOP PROPOSAL

The Village Society has written to Wokingham District Council with comments on the business plan for the proposed organic farm shop on land between Lodge Road and Tape Lane. We have urged the council to refuse planning permission.

We believe the business plan is flawed with serious errors and omissions. The Parish Council and several individuals have also objected to the proposal. The plan had been drawn up without any research into the market, and made an assumption that people in Hurst would be prepared to pay a premium over the market price for organic vegetables.

The previous application for an organic farm and shop was rejected on appeal in 2000. The new plans, submitted more than a year ago, were for a non-organic farm, which has since been changed to an organic enterprise.