An MP has hit out at regeneration plans for Ascot High Street, claiming that plans ‘do not represent the wishes of the local community’.

Jack Rankin MP has written to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RMWM) Council to object to plans it says will make the area a ‘destination town’.

A draft plan masterplan for improvements to the centre will soon be given to Ascot residents to have their say.

Councillor Adam Bermange said that the plan would be ‘a vision to rejuvenate Ascot’ with an improved high street and development that protects the ‘green leafy character’ of the area. There could also be a cycle lane along the High Street, which could result in less on-street parking being available.

Mr Rankin represents parts of Ascot as MP for Windsor. He wrote in his letter to RBWM: “The plans as proposed do not align with community aspirations, nor what was promised to my constituents in a series of planning consultations and documents over the years.”

Mr Rankin wrote that the development ‘is not Ascot’, with the design, scale and mass ‘out of keeping with the local area’.

On parking, the Conservative member said that he was concerned about the lack of parking spaces provided. With Ascot being ‘semi-rural’, reliance on cars to get around is higher, according to Mr Rankin – but the promise of 128 spaces falls short of what is required for the town centre.

Plans to create short-term parking spaces in the area surrounding Ascot Station, Station Hill, were also a cause for concern.

Mr Rankin explained that the majority of people using these parking spaces were commuters, meaning changes would ‘force these commuters to park somewhere else within walking distance of the station’.

He said this was likely to be outside the racecourse, an area already heavily congested.

He further raised concerns about the plans including only one community centre facility.

The council has said that Ascot Racecourse’s car park three, open to the public, and a new car park on Winkfield Road would be ‘sufficient’ for those driving to Ascot.

Ascot Parish Council, local organisations and hundreds of other residents have also expressed their opposition to these plans.

Neighbours have warned that the redevelopment could ‘strangle and kill’ the high street rather than helping it, with fears that it will cause ‘chaos’ and congestion in the centre.

A consultation on the plans is expected to be launched in September.