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Pinewood Studios launches its appeal over controversial project
PINEWOOD Studios has launched an appeal after its application for its controversial Project Pinewood scheme was refused by South Bucks District Council (SBDC).
The application, which would see a number of permanent film sets resembling places like New York, Venice and Paris being built on Green Belt land, has faced stiff opposition form residents and the parish council in Iver Heath.
In October 2009, SBDC's planning committee refused the application on the grounds that it would set a dangerous precedent if it allowed building work on such a huge scale to take place on Green Belt Land.
However, Pinewood Studios feels that the scheme, which would see the film sets double as housing, is vital to the future of the British film industry and will play a big part in attracting high profile film makers to work in the country.
They also say that the development will create a huge number of jobs for people in the area.
Andrew Smith, group director of corporate affairs at Pinewood Studios, said: "Project Pinewood is just as important as ever to the UK. Locally, unemployment in South Bucks rose by approximately 57 per cent in 2009.
"It is also essential for the UK's creative industries. This proposal has received widespread support from sections of the local community as well as a broad range of business leader and industry commentators.
"This is a project of national and regional significance and the economic benefits will be considerable."
Pinewood has submitted its appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, but the news has not been well received by people living near to the site.
One resident of Pinewood Green said: "We knew that they would appeal against it, so we will have to see what happens now.
"We will not stop fighting this application because the impact it will have on Iver Heath is huge. It will double the population of the village and alter our way of life for ever.
"We have always liked living so near to the studios, but if this went ahead, life would be unbearable, so we are all praying that the plan stops."
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I live in Stoke Poges but urge everyone in South Bucks to support Iver Heath and Fulmer villages in opposing what is a cynical attempt to overturn planning laws which protect our rural environment. the supposed benefits to the film industry are a smokescreen to disguise what is a cunning plan to enable money men to benefit from the difference between land values with and without planning permission for development.