Reading West MP, Martin Salter, is calling on Reading members of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) to resign en masse in protest over the news that the organisation formally supported the plans by Prudential to build 7,500 houses on the Kennet Meadows south-west of Reading.

The CPRE this week admitted that it made representations to the Panel of Inspections to include the Kennet Meadows as a Strategic Development Area saying:

“Of course, we recognise the need for new housing, and support development and housing of the right kind in the right place.  For example, major housing development south west of Reading in mid Berkshire is a welcome key proposal, which we supported at the independent Public Examination. This will provide new housing, while protecting countryside south of the M4.” Edward Dawson, CPRE South-East Director.

Martin Salter MP, who spearheaded the successful campaign to overturn the Panel’s recommendations on Kennet Meadows said:

“This is a grotesque example of sickening double standards by the CPRE who seem to want to dump on Reading in order to take pressure off other sites in the region where the bulk of their membership resides. It beggars belief that an organisation which is supposed to defend the environment can actively lobby for the destruction of an important wildlife site much loved by anglers, bird-watchers, and walkers. It is also grossly irresponsible of them to ignore the warnings from the Environment Agency of the serious flood risk to thousands of homes in Reading should the functional floodplain of the Kennet be destroyed.”

Mr Salter added:

“The CPRE owe the people of Reading an apology and an explanation and I would strongly advise any CPRE members locally to resign their membership unless the organisation changes its position”

Southcote Councillor and Kennet Meadows campaigner Deborah Edwards said:

“The Kennet Meadows might not be in the Watership Down league but it is Reading’s green lung and is beautiful in its own right. I’m disappointed that the CPRE appears not to care about the people of Southcote and south west Reading and are discrediting what this area means to us.”

Martin Salter MP has today tabled a Commons motion condemning the stance taken by the CPRE and calling upon them to explain their actions.

The full text of Mr Salter’s EDM is as follows:

THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE PROTECTION OF RURAL ENGLAND AND THE KENNET FLOODPLAIN

This House welcomes the announcement by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government not to designate the Kennet Meadows south-west of Reading within the South-East Plan as a strategic development area; notes the strong representations from the Environment Agency, local councillors, and residents regarding the serious risk of flooding should the functional flood plain of the river Kennet be developed; applauds the recent campaign against the inclusion of the Kennet Meadows in the South-East Plan; condemns the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England for attempting to allocate a major housing development on the Kennet floodplain at the Examination in Public and calls upon the CPRE to explain why it is prepared to countenance the destruction of an important wildlife site and put thousands of homes in the Reading area at risk of flooding.