Developers get a grilling

Rose Harland • Published 21 Feb 2010 12:00 8 Comments

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ANGRY residents packed out a community hall to take developers to task over problems with their neighbourhood.

Around 100 people from the part-built Jennett's Park estate grilled a representative from joint developers Redrow Homes (Southern) Limited and Persimmon Homes Limited about parking problems, clampers and lack of facilities.

It was organised by Jennett's Park Community Association and its chairwoman Caroline Elkins said after the meeting on Thursday last week: "We had to turn people away because the hall was full, that's how the feeling is around here. It is the whole of the community that has issues."

The meeting was chaired by Rev Michael Bentley, chairman of the Great Hollands police and community Neighbourhood Action Group, and began with a presentation from Bracknell Forest Council planning officer Susan Stewart, who explained how residents could contact the council to see planning information and express any concerns.

Mike Owen, speaking on behalf of the developers, said the timescale for the development had been delayed by the recession.

He said: "In terms of the obligations, they have met all of them and we are working to make the provision development within the original timeframe, based on the number of units built rather than dates."

He said he understood there was "frustration" but added: "It is absolutely impossible that funding can be brought forward."

He said work would begin on the neighbourhood centre, including the community centre and school, this summer, so the school should be open by September next year. He said the estate would be likely to be finished in 2014/15.

But one resident said: "When I bought my property, I was given a complete guarantee that the school would be open in 2010. I feel completely misled and if I could give you my house back and say I want a refund, I would."

Mr Owen said he would look into who told her that, and also promised to look into complaints from residents concerned about the lack of parking, clampers' fees and contractors' inconsiderate parking.

One mum said: "Contractors and builders end up parking on the pavement. You can't get a pushchair or a wheelchair along them."

Other concerns raised included the delay in building the shops and the Jennett's Hill recreation area, the lack of dog bins, drainage ditches in some places and lighting.

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Anthony
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Feb 23, 16:51
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Well I attended the meeting last week and as yet the "hotline" is still not being answered, and to leave the kids over 8 with no where to play for the next 2 years plus is just terrible. This is not a family development nor is it suitable for low cost housing nor the disabled. It is a disgrace. All that wildlife gone for this white elephant!!!

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sam
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Mar 14, 14:00
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Well still nothing changed or going to change shame on the council and developers - yet they are still advertising a doctors and shops etc when selling the houses - miselling or what ?!!!

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TheUglyTruth
Unregistered User
Apr 14, 13:09
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As a resident of Jennett's Park I find these two comments absolutely laughable at best.

1) There are three (3) currently fully completed playgrounds for children and the Country park is accessable to all. Any child over 8 can play on any of these, unless their imagination has been stuntted by too much TV/PS3/Wii non-interactive parenting.

2) The shops and Doctors office are due when they sell enough houses. If you constantly promote what a 'mess' or 'disgrace' this is, or suggest 'miss-selling' then how many more homes do you expect to be sold? That's right. None. Triggers based on # homes sold determine, quite rightly, when these facilities are being built. I knew it when I bought, if YOU didn't then I suggest that was your mis-selling to yourselves.

I love Jennett's Park, shame you can't move off somewhere else so it would be a little better.

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TrueBlue
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Apr 28, 12:36
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Just reading the above comments - although harsh one and two - number three seems to be a very rude uneducated person

The play areas are upto the age of 8 (i don't think TheUglyTruth can read the signs) and I would be very surprised if a child of say 10 and over would like to be accompanied by a parent to play out!

The school we have heard will be ready next year along with the retail area which is as promised by the developers - although some doubt on the doctors due to lack of funds which is fully understandable in this day and age

You don't know TheUglyTruth if the above people bought or are in social housing to which they would have had no choice.

I think most of us love Jennetts Park and some of us have a higher education and mre respect than asking people to move off to make it a little better. To whom would you be referring when you ask them to move?

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may
Unregistered User
May 10, 13:23
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Jennetts Park is a great place to live, we have been here from the beginning since 2007, and its great, when its finished it will be even better, by the end of next year we will have the school and shops, and the country park and walks nd paths will be completed by this summer. Jennetts Park will only get better, we just all have to be patient. The recession was out of the developers hands!

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TheUglyTruth
Unregistered User
Jun 4, 15:23
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TrueBlue - Making personal attacks against someone is more telling of a persons educational status than making plain honest observations. In a debate it is often considered better form to attack the point, rather than the person.

Lastly, I refer to anyone who doesn't like Jennett's Park without prejudice, but nice try attempting to make me out to be a bigot, as well as attacking my level of intellect. Don't like it? Ship out. Think it's bad? Take a look a real deprived neighbourhood and consider how very very lucky we all are.

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TrueBlue
Unregistered User
Jun 8, 13:31
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No one is making personal attacks TUT - I believe I responded to your comment re asking people to leave - but then I am degree educated and able to read what the last person put and respond accordingly.

I do agree with May that the area is going to be lovely when all completed. It is a shame that down just one street 5 houses are now up for sale and more and more are being purchased by housing associations as they are not selling.

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TheUglyTruth
1 post
Jul 1, 12:12
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If you cannot see where you made a personal attack then I would suggest your degree (congrats on being the only person in the UK to get one, BTW ;) ) was a waste of time. Your comment, "i (sic) don't think TheUglyTruth can read", is clearly a personal attack. You then mention your 'Desmond' Degree again, like it's going to add credibility to your weak rant. Have you just completed an OU course so you can yap on about it? Nobody cares about your education level, and I'm more than happy with mine, so keep on topic, rather than derailing the discussion.

If you don't like JP, leave. If you keep up moaning to the local papers about JP then it will correlate directly to lower sales and lower resale of YOUR homes.

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