I have asked KEG to issue this statement on my behalf and am grateful that they have agreed to do so. I will not comment further than this at present, pending further legal advice.
Last week a serious allegation was made against me to the Council, by Reading Golf Club, in relation to my decision to oppose the outline planning application submitted by Reading Golf Club/Fairfax. The complaint stated that I had broken the Councillor Code of Conduct because I somehow stood to make a financial gain if the development didn’t go ahead. This seemed to be based on house prices dropping in the area as a result of the development. The complaint was quickly investigated by the Monitoring Officer of Reading Borough Council and was immediately dismissed. Indeed it was rather confusing that the golf club seemed to be making accusations based on the fact that their development might have a negative effect on house prices. To me this seems like a very strange stance for a business to take who are currently trying to get planning permission for said development. One wonders whether they don’t have much faith in their own plans.
Everyone has a right to make a formal complaint against a Councillor if they think there is wrongdoing and I respect that democratic right. However what has been more worrying and distressing is that it has become clear that the same unfounded rumour has been promulgated to members of the community, members of the golf club and passed to The Henley Standard. Given the outlandishness of the accusations I can only surmise this has been done with the sole purpose of doing serious damage to my reputation. What is particularly galling is that, while I stand to make absolutely nothing either way, those accusing me stand to make potentially huge, personal, financial gain. Whilst I am a public figure I am also a mum and a member of the local community and the circulation of an unsubstantiated, vexatious, allegation has been particularly frustrating.
Many of you will know that I worked for 2 years with the action group CAGE, campaigning against the Gladman development on the edge of Emmer Green because my residents were so concerned about the detrimental effect it would have on our services and infrastructure. I spoke out against it regularly at SODC and RBC committee meetings, in meetings with Councillors and officers, on the radio and in the press and at the planning appeal in May 2018. The development on the golf course poses many of same threats to the community except that this development is even larger and its effect could be compounded by further development on the SODC side of the course in the future. There is a wealth of evidence which proves the huge amount of public opposition to this situation and this has been the case since 2018 when I personally forwarded at least 100 objections to the planning department, written to me by angry residents, in relation to the golf course’s allocation in the Reading Local Plan (CA1b). It is entirely proper for a local Councillor to represent their residents in matters of such grave concern. Indeed because my 2 colleagues, who are also Emmer Green Councillors, sit on the planning committee they are required to remain neutral so I am the only Councillor in this Ward who can represent your views. It would be incorrect for me not to take a view and I will not be bullied or threatened into not doing so.
To be clear my reasons for campaigning against this development are: the obvious and wide spread opposition to it expressed by residents of Peppard Ward; the implications of future development on the SODC side of the course for Emmer Green and Reading as a whole; it is my opinion that a development of this scale is unsustainable for our community. These reasons are exactly the same as those I expressed in opposition to the Gladman development. My stance has remained entirely consistent.
The community have done a really quite remarkable job at coming together and fighting this application. I don’t think the Council have ever seen anything quite like it. I don’t know what the result will be when it finally goes to the Planning Applications Committee but what cannot be doubted is the passion and commitment that you have demonstrated and I am in awe of the work that has gone into this campaign by all of you. Well done and make sure that your views are heard.
