Press Release from the North Hampshire and West Berkshire Joint Action Group

The Rabbits of Watership Down Fight Back

World famous author Richard Adams has joined the campaign of objection to the siting of a Household Waste Recycling Centre on Sandleford Park in the Green Belt protecting the southern approaches to Newbury.

The warren in Sandleford Park featured in the opening pages of his book Watership Down when the rabbits were forced to flee southwards by the onward advance of the developers and their machinery.

Richard Adams was born in Monks Lane, Newbury and retains many happy memories of a boyhood spent exploring the park. He has added his voice to the many local parish councils and community organisations who are calling on the Government Office for the South East to recommend calling in the application to move the HWRC currently located at Pinchinton Lane to a location on the edge of the park.

On 21 Feb the planning committee of the West Berkshire District Council narrowly approved the proposal in the face of massive local opposition. Unlike many planning fights, local residents are fighting to retain the existing HWRC within their community rather than move it to the edge.

For further information please contact:

Peter Woodman peter@pwoodman.co.uk or 01635 297144