The Royal Borough Council and the Taplow Parish Council voiced the view of the majority of their electorates in asking the South Bucks District Council to refuse the outline planning application submitted by Hunter Page Planning Ltd on behalf of their client Watchword Ltd to build a complex comprising a seven story hotel, high rise apartment blocks and luxury houses with private marinas on the east bank of the Thames immediately adjacent to Maidenhead Bridge.
The District Council planning officers recommended the refusal of the application in a fluent and logical analysis of the issues involved in the rehabilitation of such an historic Conservation Area within such important Green Belt surroundings and the application has been withdrawn.
Now the way is clear for a developer to think through all the points that have been made by the official consultees and the general public and to arrive at a master plan which will enrich our community and provide a satisfactory return on his investment.
A boutique hotel serving as the home base for tourists visiting the Thames Valley and incorporating a high quality destination restaurant, would be a viable enterprise for a Skindles building restored within its historic façade. Relocating the Bath Road end of Mill Lane on the existing car park without losing any of the magnificent trees would improve the traffic flow to the benefit of residents and businesses. The unique river environment along the island and river banks between Maidenhead Bridge and Boulters Lock Weir is much too precious to lose
An imaginative planner would incorporate all of the Conservation and Green Belt features of this splendid location in a world class new community.
Karl Lawrence
