Lambourn Woodlands residents lose fight against Membury industrial estate air flights

PLANNERS have given the green light to revised plans for Walker Logistics' warehouse plans, which will see aircraft flights at a new runway.

In 2021, permission was given for a 40ft-high warehouse the size of two Wembley football pitches to be built in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The decision came despite “unprecedented local opposition” and some concern from West Berkshire Council’s own highways officers.

On Wednesday, February 8, West Berkshire Council's western area planning committee considered Walker Logistics’ reserved matters application plans for the warehouse with ancillary offices and an aircraft museum on land off Ramsbury Road.

Lambourn Parish Council objected, stating: "There has been a material change in the application, which now includes aircraft movements, and an extension to the airfield, with access from the Walker Logistics building to a live runway, which they now state ... they will be flying out of the site between 25 to 30 times per annum."

Residents who spoke at the meeting reminded the committee of the council's own climate change emergency declaration.

They claimed the 200 new jobs promised would mostly be filled by employees being bussed in from outside the area from towns such as Swindon and Reading.

Ward councillor Howard Woollaston (Con, Lambourn) said at the time of the original debate in 2021: "I’ve seen unprecedented levels of local opposition.

"Apart from the fact that Walker Logistics is a responsible local employer, I can’t see a single, logical reason to support this application.

"Membury has been allowed to develop haphazardly over the years with little or no respect for local residents."

In a statement to the committee on Wednesday night he reiterated that his constituents continued to oppose "any further intensification" of the industrial estate.

He cited concerns over road and air traffic, flood risk, light pollution and the impact on the AONB.

Company chairman Philip Walker told the committee how he started the business 24 years ago when he bought the Membury site, which then consisted of a series of neglected commercial buildings

Since then, the meeting heard, he has grown Walker Logistics steadily, now employing more than 150 full-time members of staff.

He said: "If planning permission is granted, once the new building is completed and fully operational we estimate it will create an additional 200 new jobs based on our current business customer to staff ratio.

"Ten years ago the family rescued a Dakota aircraft from a scrap yard as it had operated from Membury during the war years, including an important role in the D-Day operations.

"The aircraft is hoped to be flying again in 2023 and will form part of a display at the museum when practical."

The committee voted to approve the application.

Afterwards, Mr Walker said: "My family is pleased the council has backed our business expansion plans.

"It's great news for our employees, for the sustainability of this rural community, as well as for fellow aviation enthusiasts

"Once up and running I hope opponents will see their fears were unfounded.

"As the ward councillor acknowledged in his statement, we are a responsible, well-run business with an excellent reputation.

"I am delighted we can now grow and provide more jobs for our local community."