LEGLOAND® have submitted a planning application for a major, new attraction & ride called the ‘Haunted House’ comprising a giant 4 storey building; 64.65 metres high according to submitted drawings; interestingly, the Officers’s reports sent to the planning panel only classify this as a 13m, “two storey” building! This application is to be heard on Wednesday 16 July at 7.00pm by the Windsor Urban Development Control Panel (WUDCP) at the Guildhall in Windsor; this is the Panel which approved the development of the Queen Pub; the WUDCP now has a different Chair, Cllr Quick, and Cllr Grey has been replaced by Cllr Penfold, one of the “West Windsor” Independent Councillors for Clewer North.
Warning
This application is not being dealt with by the Planning Dept in the usual way, so you may not be aware of its existence. If you search for “Legoland” planning applications the Haunted House is not listed, unlike all other LEGOLAND® planning applications. Instead it has been logged in under “Haunted House”. Also, on the Application Progress box there is no indication that it is to be heard on 16 July 2104.
Grounds to say “no”
Both the RBWM Highways Dept and Trees Departments have raised a number of concerns including, inter alia, the following;
- The new attraction will increase visitor numbers and extend the periods when traffic on local roads is already at a standstill.
- The results of the recent Traffic Trials need further close examination before any conclusions can be drawn.
- The need for a 5-10 year plan of further development within the Park together with robust measures to mitigate the traffic impact of the Park.
- The existing Travel Plan is two years out of date and needs to be updated.
According to a recent email, the Highway Authority recommends approval of the Haunted House application subject to LEGOLAND® being “required to submit the updated Action Plan to be approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority” and “All the agreed (traffic) mitigation measures mentioned in the Plan…(being)…implemented prior to the commencement of any works on the site.” Comment: Wouldn’t it be more prudent for Legoland to put all these traffic mitigation measures in place, prove they work and THEN resubmit this planning proposal? Let’s hope there is clarity on the height and size of the building by Wednesday evening
RBWM Planners say “yes”
The Officer’s Report dated 16 July 2014 can be seen by clicking here. In summary, they conclude, “Subject to it being satisfactorily demonstrated that there are no adverse impacts on trees protected by the Tree Preservation Order it is recommended the Panel grants planning permission with the conditions listed in Section 9 of this report.”
ACT QUICKLY to have your say …
You have the opportunity to comment on the application, and make representations in the one of the following ways.
1. Contact your local councillor***
Find your local councillor by clicking on our page, “Meet The Councillors”, or if you want to ensure your case is taken up by an Independent councillor, contact “West Windsor” Independent Cllr John Penfold, who is a member of the WUDCP. If you have views on this application IT IS ESSENTIAL that you make these known to John, so that he can vote in full knowledge of the views of his constituents. You can contact him by email, telephone, or post – click here Cllr Penfold’s contact details.
2. Attend the planning meeting***
If you have strong views then do attend the meeting so that Panel members can see the strength of feeling. Click here to fid out more about the meeting.
3. Visit the RBWM website and*
Go to the RBWM website page http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/pam/view.jsp?ID=14/01251/FULL, and on the right hand side click on “Comment on this Application”. Make your own statements, positive or negative, and/or use one of the five ‘Grounds to say “no” ‘ noted above if you want to object to the proposal.
4. Email RBWM’s Development Control team
The Development Control team is based at York Stream House, c/o Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1RF. Tel. 01628 683810 E-mail [email protected]
NB
- Remember to state your case for, or against. If you want to say “no”, include one, or more, of the five ‘Grounds to say “no” ‘ noted above.
- In all cases, remember to quote the case reference, “14/01251/FULL”
The planning documents
- You can access the full documents at the RBWM website at http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/pam/view.jsp?ID=14/01251/FULL
- Click here for a copy of the Officer’s report from the RBWM website.
- Here are a selection of two of the submitted plans
Legoland Haunted House AA BB 1538452 
Legoland Haunted House FF 1538468 
For the latest information about RBWM meetings go to http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/meetings/ or email the Council at [email protected]
Our thanks to WWRA member Helen Price for this article.