PLANNING bosses are ‘scaling back’ plans to transform Sandhurst’s Horseshoe Lake into a country park after pressure from the local community.

Millions of pounds worth of investment was planned for the site with a new pavilion and integrated cafe and expanded car park set to be added.

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But now Bracknell Forest Council (BFC) will not explore the option of adding a chargeable car park and a new cafe, but will still seek to ‘enhance’ the site.

Andrew Hunter, Director for Place, Planning and Regeneration said: “We have taken on board the feedback from the local community and are responding to it by reviewing what can be provided at Horseshoe Lake.

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“We are exploring all opportunities to deliver an enhanced facility at this site for residents, whilst adhering to the council’s responsibilities to protect the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area.”

Options for the site now being investigated include adding a nature-themed child’s play area, adding a seasonal cafe rather than a permanent one, and working with water sports companies based at Horseshoe Lake to “enhance their offering”.

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BFC “decided to scale back the plans” after neighbours and visitors highlighted concerns about how large-scale changes to the site might affect road safety.

Mike Forster, who lives in Sandhurst, told the News in June: “The biggest problem with it is the transport links are awful.

“The roads nearby are tiny and you’re going to have chaos if you put more people down that road.

“Horseshoe Lake is a fantastic place and we don’t want it to lose its character.”

Residents had also complained about the lack of consultation about the plans, and in September the Sandhurst Residents Association was told neighbours would be allowed to have their say when the planning application for the revamp was submitted in November.

Original plans for Horseshoe Lake suggested more than 140,000 people would visit the site once the project had been completed.

Business documents claimed more than £1.1m in revenue was expected to be made 15 years after the revamp and once the borrowing debt was paid off, net income was expected to rise to £263,000 per year.