The planning round-up this week: a nursery in Crowthorne, cricket nets in Winnersh and oak trees in Sandhurst.
No cricket nets in Winnersh (Wokingham Borough Council 260641)
A controversial plan for a floodlit private cricket net in a quiet Winnersh cul‑de‑sac has been scrapped after local objections. Nilesh Gupta wanted a 3.6‑metre‑high practice cage with LED floodlights and an artificial wicket in the back garden of 6 Winnersh Gate. He said it would be a small‑scale, private facility for two children, family use only, with limited hours and shielded lights to cut spill. But Winnersh Parish Council branded the floodlights "inappropriate" and warned of intrusive light and noise. Ward councillor Prue Bray pushed for tight limits and a ban on commercial hire. The application, lodged on 19 March, was withdrawn on 29 April 2026.
Crowthorne nursery set to expand (Bracknell Forest ref 25/00348/FUL)
Kids Inc has been granted permission to increase capacity at The Little Red House Nursery, 59-61 Dukes Ride, from 82 to 97 pupils, approved on 24 April 2026. The new cap is written into a condition limiting the number of children on site at any one time. Additional pupils can only start once an approved parking layout, travel plan and transport statement are in place. Car and cycle use must be monitored and reported to the council annually for five years to guard against on‑street parking and traffic problems. Operating hours stay 7am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, and the rear garden at 59 Dukes Ride can only be used at set times in the late morning and mid‑afternoon to protect neighbours' amenity.
Sandhurst resident can't prune protected oaks (Bracknell Forest 25/00195/TRTPO)
Andy Farthing of 1 St Mary's Close applied in October to cut back four mature oak trees covered by a Tree Preservation Order. Contractor Green Frontiers proposed reducing height and spread by 1-2 metres and pledged not to make pruning cuts larger than 100mm. After a site visit on 14 April 2026, Bracknell Forest tree officer Phil Gritten condemned the historic "topping and lopping" of the trees-especially the most stressed oak labelled T2-as poor practice for the species. He said the council could not sanction further crown reduction without robust arboricultural evidence and urged routine professional tree risk assessments and modern care such as mulching to support the oaks' long‑term health.
Ted O'Neill, Local Democracy Reporter
West Berkshire Council Praised for CIL Fairness
