29th July 2010: The remaining part of Oliver's copse that went to auction recently, failed to be sold. The guide prce of £75,000 was not reached, apparently according to the auctioneer's website, it reached just £56,500.
We believe that lack of interest follows the statement by West Berks planning (see below), that the land is not for development purposes.
Over the last couple of weeks the Copse has been sold, as of yet the buyer is unknown, but will likely come to light once registered with the land registry.
Since the sale, residents whose properties border the copse have had invitations from a London estate agent to buy plots of land adjacent to their properties. Some of the residents have enquired with other local estate agents, whether or not it is a good idea to purchase such a plot and whether or not it would add value to their property. The local estate agents replied that it wasn't a particularly good idea, due to the fact that the property's garden would be oversized, there maybe access problems and also it would have large trees within it.
It would seem that the element of land remaining after sale of the plots offered to ajacent properties, would be auctioned off and we believe this has already happened.
The copse committee undertook to ask the West Berkshire planning authority, if such a garden plot was purchased, whether it would be able to be further developed into garden space. The full email and reply is posted below for your review:
From: (Oliver’s Copse committee Member) Sent: 07 July 2010 13:15 To: Alistair Buckley Subject: Olivers Copse<o:p>
To Alistair Buckley
Planning Policy
I have recently been offered the opportunity to purchase part of the above ancient woodland. This would enable me to increase my length by an additional 100feet.
Having seen a copy of your e-mail to Councillor Linden, regarding the loss of important open spaces, I am concerned about the above proposed sale to myself and 23 others whose properties border onto Oliver's Copse. I have some questions to which I would appreciate the Councils thoughts on this matter.
1. Do these sales represent a "significant" loss of open space?
2. Would the following constructions be considered as "development" into the existing
woodland area?
a) the erections of fences
b) the possible construction of garden sheds, gazebo's, summer houses
c) the construction of houses, footpaths into the newly purchased "garden" areas
d) the installation or construction of compost bins
e) the implementations of children's play areas ie swings, trampolines
f) the keeping of chickens and other livestock with their associated hutches, pens etc
g) the planting of ornamental bushes, trees and plants which are not native to the
woodland.
Thank you in anticipation of an early reply.
From: Alistair Buckley Sent: 07 July 2010 14:19 To: Planapps Cc: (Oliver’s Copse committee member) Subject: FW: Olivers Copse<o:p>
Dear Mr xxxxxx,
I have forwarded your email to my colleagues in Development Management for their attention.
Regards
Alistair Buckley<o:p>
Planning Policy <o:p>
*Planning & Transport Policy, West Berkshire Council, Market Street, Newbury, RG14 5LD<o:p>
I do consider that the scale of change you appear to be describing would represent a significant loss of open space.
All of the elements on your list represent development, not just because some of it entails physical development, but because of the underlying 'change of use' to domestic/residential use which is itself development as defined by the Town and Country Planning Act.
Any application for such a change of use would in my opinion be refused. I do not have the resources available to me to provide a fully detailed 'pre-application' response but I certainly would not encourage you to progress and I would not expect any application, along the lines that you suggest, to be approved.
This is a chance to find out more about what is happening and what we can do to help save this piece of important woodland from destruction and development.
Local Reading West MP Alok Sharma will be attending and giving his support to the campaign.
We need your help and support, please come along, voice your opinion, sign up to the campaign!
PRESS RELEASE: 24 May 2010
PUBLIC MEETING ORGANISED TO SAVE OLIVER’S COPSE ANCIENT WOODLAND
Oliver’s Copse, which comprises just over 9 acres of unspoilt ancient woodland nestled next to Withy Copse in Tilehurst, is currently being offered for sale by its current owners and it is understood that there has been interest from investment companies and developers in the site. The woodland borders some of the streets on the Bird’s estate in Tilehurst and the houses off Langley Hill, Bay Tree Rise & Yew Tree Rise.
In response to the threat of this amenity being lost to developers local residents have launched a public campaign group, Save Oliver’s Copse Campaign (SOCC). A public meeting organised by SOCC will be held on Friday 28 May at 7 pm at the Calcot Centre in Tilehurst to discuss the issue and share ideas with other local residents.
When letters advertising that the land for sale were sent to some of the residents a few weeks ago many residents started to become concerned about the possible loss of more land to property developers.
What started as a discussion between a handful of concerned resident soon resulted in Russell & Fiona Vince, who have been residents of Bay Tree Rise for over 25 years, rallying the local community to put a stop to the woodlands being destroyed. The campaign is considering, with enough community support, to put in a bid for the woodland with the aim of buying it and preserving it for the long term benefit of the whole community. In addition the SOCC campaigners are applying for village green status on the woodlands to protect the land irrespective of ownership.
Russell and Fiona Vince said: “The enthusiasm has been really positive with considerable community support pledged by individuals in just a few weeks. We are confident that if we can get the message out fast enough then we have a real chance of protecting this valuable green-space.”
Local Reading West MP Alok Sharma, who has met with SOCC campaigners, is supporting the campaign to protect Oliver’s Copse. Alok commented: “I am incredibly impressed by how well organised the campaign group are and we have here a fantastic set of residents who are determined to protect this valuable green space. Over the past few years I have joined residents’ campaigns against inappropriate development on Pincents Hill and the Bath Road Reservoir site and I will be working very closely with the SOCC campaigners to ensure that we save Oliver’s Copse for the local community.”
Fiona Vince added: “We are working against a ticking clock the closing date for bids was the 21 May 2010.We have contacted the owners directly via email to see whether they would sell the woodland to the community as a preferred Purchaser at the time of this going to press we have had no response.
We know we are likely to be bidding against developers with quite deep pockets, so we need to get as many people involved as quickly as possible if we are to stand a chance of making this happen. Residents are all too familiar with developers trying to build on our open space but as the recent Pincents Hill Campaign shows as a community can achieve things if we work together.”
Fiona concluded: “What we need is community support and simply money, any donations, large and small, to help us put in a bid - how much are you willing to give, to save this woodland for the Community. If we cannot bid for the land we need to move forward in our application for Village Green status and we need your help and support to fund this. Please join us at the public meeting at the Highview Centre, Calcot on Friday 28th May 2010 at 7pm.”
