Residents in Bracknell Forest and surrounding areas are worried a huge film set, rumoured to be for Netflix's Bridgerton series, could cause a 'grave danger' to road users and 'destroy wildlife'.
A proposal to create a temporary film set at Buttersteep Rise has been submitted with applicants Planit Consulting hoping to film at the site from June 2021 to October 2021.
If the plans are given the go-ahead, film crews would be allowed to use the crown land, east of Swinley Road in Ascot, for 12 months from when permission is given.
However, dozens of residents have opposed the plans already raising concerns over traffic as '300 vehicles' is being proposed to using the site during filming.
Local resident Mark Sayers, has expressed his concerns over 'detrimental' longstanding impact the film set will have to the community.
READ MORE: Film set for TV show could be built near Swinley Forest — could it be Bridgerton?
He said: "Buttersteep Forest 'provides a rare example of an outstanding area for recreation, wildlife, conservation and working woodland' all of which will be irrevocably damaged by this opportunistic application.
"The toxic mix of pedestrians and dogs and dog walkers with the proposed traffic volumes is a recipe for danger and a health and safety disaster waiting to happen."
The resident is also worried the traffic problem the site causes could only be made worse with the 300 vehicles using the site.
He added: "There will extensive vehicles going to and from the site for the entirety of the period of development stated at 300 vehicles a day at peak. The junction is tight and straight into the single-track road for approximately 300 meters.
"The single-track lane has no potential for passing places (posts on both sides of the Rise), and will severely impact all other users, including residents."
Proposals submitted to Bracknell Forest Council include constructing temporary buildings with fencing surrounding some of them in the north of the site, as well as a site office, a marquee, 300 car parking spaces and other necessities.
However, the site lies in the greenbelt — land which is typically protected from building work by local and national planning policies.
Applicants argue any developments in the green belt are ‘completely reversible’ and therefore the set will have ‘no lasting impact on the landscape’.
Planit Consulting said: "Wherever possible, the location of the filming areas and associated preparation, storage and parking areas have all been chosen to ensure minimum impact on the surrounding natural environment.
"The proposed location has also been chosen to allow safe access and parking for all construction vehicles, temporary buildings and storage and will have no detrimental impact on the surrounding environment."
Planning experts at the council are now considering the proposals.
For full details, enter planning reference 20/01063/FUL at planapp.bracknell-forest.gov.uk.
I consider this application to be detrimental to the area, at odds with current and longstanding use and producing an impactful danger to the public, and the planning application should be refused.
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