Villagers vow to fight Project Pinewood

Villagers vow to fight Project Pinewood
Posted by Jack Abell on Jul 8, 09 11:17 AM in Gerrards Cross News

HUNDREDS of people flocked to a public meeting this week to make their feelings known about the controversial Project Pinewood development.

At a meeting held in Iver Heath Village Hall on Monday night, nearly 400 people went along to discuss the best ways to oppose the plans.

Attendance at the meeting was so high that a sound system had to be set up outside because the hall was filled to capacity.

At the beginning of June, Pinewood Studios submitted a planning application to South Bucks District Council (SBDC), which, if accepted, would see a large number of permanent film sets resembling areas such as Paris, New York and Amsterdam being built on Green Belt in Iver Heath.

As well as this, there are separate applications to change the road system in the area at the Five Points roundabout and in Seven Hills Road, to allow for the increase in traffic the development would bring.

Julian Wilson, chairman of Iver Parish Council, told the crowd: "This application would double the population of Iver Heath, and effectively add 2,000 extra cars every day. Even with the proposed changes to the road systems, the village and the surrounding area quite simply could not handle this.

"This development would add 3,315 people to the area, but there is no answer to where children are going to go to school. The Chalfonts Community College is full, as is Burnham Grammar and Burnham Upper. Where are they going to go?"
The crowd was urged not to be silent about their feelings towards the plan, and to make their feelings known as much as possible.

Mr Wilson added: "I would expect that this plan will be turned down by SBDC, but there will then be an appeal which will go to the Secretary of State, but as to what will happen then I couldn't say.

"We need to fight this every step of the way. You should start by writing to the district and county councils, to MP Dominic Grieve and to the papers, and even if and when SBDC turn down the application, we should still not stop, because Pinewood will keep trying. The only way to have an effect is to make our opposition clear."