This is an illustration of the planned layout for the Miller Homes Development on the Land West of Warwick Road. I must point out that this is only a proposed plan and is subject to change. There will be approx 300 homes and 90 affordable properties. At the top of the site is planned allotments.
Following the recent opening of the £11 Million flood defences you’d think Banbury would be clear of flooding….errr, wrong. Take a look at the latest press release to see the flooding around the Mills Art Centre in the town. Press Release 114
The scary thing is the council haven’t learnt a thing, instead they still plan to allow the building of 800 houses on the hills overlooking the canal just North of the town centre. Perhaps the council could explain how concreting over the land will stop the rain gushing off the slopes and in to the canal, thus exaggerate the problems they have just spent so much money on to try and prevent.
Another developer is planning houses on Hanwell Fields!!!
Amber Developments have submitted a screening opinion to CDC for 160 new houses. What is not too clear at the moment is exactly where, though it is proposed to be north of Hanwell Fields. Again I’m not sure if this is in addition to the 400 houses from persimmon or instead of the 400. They are planning to hold a presentation at the community centre in the beginning of January. The planning consultants are Frampton’s in Banbury; they have stated they would like permission for the screening opinion before Christmas. According to Mr Bateman of Frampton’s “the proposed development site fell within the approved area of the Cherwell Local Plan which outlines preferred areas for development over the next 20 years”. I think Frampton’s need to realise that the local plan has not been approved and these site are just provisional.
UPDATE: Amber Developments is owned by none other than Mr Donger – the Landowner. I can only presume until we see the plans in the New Year, the 160 new houses would be in addition to the 400 by Persimmon, as Donger owns the land next to the planned Persimmon development
Don’t forget – Those that want to be part of the committee should attend the meeting on Monday Evening 7.00pm at the community centre.
We may have representative from Bloxham Parish Council attend so that we can share some information about how we can all fight against the council.
Other news – The council are fighting a development at Saltway using the argument that it defines the southern boundary to Banbury and defines the edge of the town and that the proposed development would breach this strong existing boundary. Errr hello CDC that is our argument against the BAN5 and BAN2 and yet CDC seem to think it’s fine that the northern boundary be breached. Just can’t believe it. It really is a joke.
Land West of Warwick Road – Miller homes are still continuing their campaign for development on this land. Both W of W Rd and Saltway would be our preferred choices for development.
Take a look at the most recent press release – Our voice is heard.
You can also read all of our other PR too
As with previous letters, I send them from all of us, so I try and get as much feedback and comments as I can. So this is the final letter I’m sending to Pegasus Planning Group who represent Persimmon Homes, they are the proposing the 400 houses at the top of estate (BAN5) If you can remember parts of the estate were invited to their little exhibition of plans in the community centre last month. There is no deadline for sending a response to them so we have focussed on sending in the time sensitive reply to the local plan first.
Take a look at the letter [Letter to Pegasus]
Cheers
Malc
For those that didn’t make it to the persimmon exhibition here are the plans they are proposing for BAN5, North of Hanwell Fields. Having spoke with the representatives for a while I found out that persimmon already own the land with the houses marked on the plan, but as yet they don’t own the rest. Which means Lord de la warr has already sold some of what he owns. The field to the right is owned by Mr. Donger, so that will be sold very soon. Presently the plan only shows 350 (approx) properties, the land to the right would also be developed once purchased from Donger, taking the number to 400 properties. The main access to the site (at the moment) comes from the Warwick Road. The public footpath to the left is intended to be paved. These plans don’t mention the green buffer that has to be included, and when asked I was told it would just be open space between the current ancient hedgerow and Hanwell Village, so that’s the field then.
If the land to the East is sold then access would come off Winter Gardens Way. Although different houses are not shown on the plan it is based up on providing 30% social/affordable housing. The proposed designs of the houses looked like painted (well multicoloured) seaside style houses, not very inkeeping with the feel of the countryside.
There is no planned provision for schooling except integration in to existing schools, when asked I was told they had a list of schools available with such places. If anyone has more information about this then please let me know. Another thing I put to them is the density of the housing as Hanwell Fields, as we know is rather cramped. From the plans I suggested this might make matters worse, as these houses are also crammed in, I also noted that most houses would have shared drives and more likely single car parking plus a garage for some. My recent calls to estate agents have proved this is a major draw back on the saleability of our own homes.
On their information sheet it says
WHY NOW.
A planning application is being considered at this stage since Cherwell District Council are experiencing difficultly in boosting the supply of housing needed to meet the Government Policy as set out in the NPPF. (National Planning Policy Framework). I’d just to like to add this is completely wrong and one huge lie. The NPPF numbers are lower than what Cherwell are estimating, which is why we are opposing it. So this statement is false. They are putting forward their plans now to maximise their chances of getting the area on the CDC Local Plan.
You can send comments about the plans to
Pegasus Planning Group
Querns Business Centre
Whitworth Road
Cirencester
GL7 1RT
or email
rob.riding@pegasuspg.co.uk
We have been asked by Tony Ilott if we would like to attend a meeting. All members are welcome to participate. We have told him that we are already arranging a meeting with Tony Baldry. After discussions, it’s been decided that we are going to merge the meetings. However before we just jump in, we’d like to be a little prepared (unlike the council) So we are proposing a HFDAG gathering to which anyone can attend whereby we provide some focus to our concerns prior to the meeting with the councillors…you might call it a focus group 😉 I’d like the meeting with the councillors to be a Q & A, rather than just a full on assault. This would give a greater appearance of community involvement if questions come from the group rather than just myself or Antony. Time is of the essence so we are proposing a meeting, either for Sunday evening 23rd or Thursday evening 27th.
It may be we do both, to give everyone the opportunity to get involved. If you would like to attend then please let me know. We will then be prepared for our meeting with the councillors, Tony Baldry and hopefully representatives from CDC planning. I’d probably invite others as well, from Hanwell Village, the press, etc etc.
Please get involved, this is your chance to have your say.
Banbury Sound called me today for a radio interview, so I pushed our campaign as much as possible.Though not sure when it’s going out on air.
We have published some more of Press Release’s including Wayne’s letter to the councillors. If you wish to write or email our local councillors to air your views to them, then please do so, infact I encourage it. Take a look at http://www.hfdag.org.uk/communications/ I have also put the councillors details on the contacts page of the site – http://www.hfdag.org.uk/contact-details/.
Thanks again to everyone for your support, but please do get involved. We need the council to know we mean business.
I have been in touch with various organisations about the wildlife in the fields of the proposed developments areas.
I’ve spoke to the RSPB who regrettably don’t seem to concerned about the area. When I mentioned about the skylarks, I was told that the area is not significant enough to warrant any further investigations. They did say that skylarks are on the ‘red list’ but again not enough of them to worry about !!!
When I mentioned about the Buzzards again the reply was not brilliant. Apparently there are 44,000 nesting pars in the UK now. So although a bird of prey it’s not significant enough to be of interest.
They did apologise for the negative view but basically they’re not that bothered. The only thing we can hope for now is a Golden Eagle or something to nest, or perhaps a tiger.
I have also been in touch with the Thames Valley Environmental Record Centre who provide records for local authorities, parish councils, local people, conservation bodies, land-owners, students and commercial organisations such as ecological consultants and utilities companies
I was told “Some of the species you mention are unlikely to be found here, such as adders and dormice”. So if anyone has photo then please send it in. Thanks to Amanda for the photo of the dead snake, sorry to say it’s been identified as a large grass snake 🙁
To quote TVERC “While most Oxfordshire records come from the Chilterns there is a single adder record from 1982 from North Claydon. A clear photo showing the patterning on the back and around the head would help a great deal“.
A member of the Group, Nick is a Horticulturalist and has mentioned that there are some orchids that would be of interest. In order to get any response from some of these groups we need some real information. Again a quote from TVERC “we need a picture of plant at the site at Banbury with location details, an idea of numbers and the name of the recorder” for it to be taken seriously. I have received a spreadsheet from TVERC to log any finds properly.
Perhaps they think we’re all David Attenborough wannabe’s.
Happy Hunting
Malc – HFDAG
http://m.banburyguardian.co.uk/news/local/against-development-1-4212769
The Draft Local Plan has been made available for public consultation. This is YOUR chance to have a say about the proposed plans around Banbury and Cherwell. The areas which are focused around Hanwell Fields are referred to as Ban5 (between us and Hanwell Village) and Ban2 (Southam Road)
Here is the statement from CDC
PLANNING AND COMPULSORY PURCHASE ACT 2004
THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (LOCAL PLANNING) (ENGLAND) REGULATIONS 2012
REGULATION 19 CONSULTATION
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION OF DRAFT LOCAL PLAN DEVELOPMENT PLAN DOCUMENT AND PROPOSED SUBMISSION POLICIES MAP (PROPOSED SUBMISSION DOCUMENTS) AND SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL OF LOCAL PLAN
STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIONS PROCEDURE
Title
Proposed Submission Cherwell Local Plan and Proposed Submission Policies Map
Subject Matter and Area
Cherwell District Council has prepared a Local Plan and Proposed Submission Policies Maps which it proposes to submit to the Secretary of State of Communities and Local Government.
The Local Plan will, upon adoption, set the broad planning framework for meeting the future needs of Cherwell District. The plan will
The Proposed Submission Local Plan and Proposed Submission Policies Map are being published for consultation from Wednesday 29th August 2012 until 5pm Wednesday 10th October 2012. Simultaneously, the Council is also consulting on the Sustainability Appraisal of the Local Plan.
The consultation paper on the Proposed Submission Local Plan and supporting documents will be available on-line at
from Wednesday 29th August 2012. It will also be made available at the locations below.
How to make your representations
Please make your representation on the representations form.
The representation form can be completed online or downloaded from the website at:
http://consult.cherwell.gov.uk/portal/ldf
The representation form is also available at the deposit points (see below).
Alternatively completed forms can be returned by:
Post:
Strategic Planning and the Economy
Cherwell District Council
Bodicote House
Bodicote
Banbury
Oxon
OX15 4AA
Email Planning.policy@cherwell-dc.gov.uk
Fax: 01295 221856
All comments received during the consultation will be made available for public inspection. Representations may be accompanied by a request to be notified at a specified address of any of the following:
i) the submission of the Local Plan for independent examination under section 20 of the Act,
ii) the publication of the recommendations of the person appointed to carry out an independent examination of the Local Plan under section 20 of the Act, and
iii) the adoption of the Local Plan
Where and when to inspect the document:
The Proposed Submission Local Plan, Proposed Submission Policies Map, Sustainability Appraisal, Leaflet, Guide to Making Representations and Representation Form can be viewed and downloaded through the Council website at:
www.cherwell.gov.uk/localdevelopmentframework
The Proposed Submission Local Plan and its supporting documents are also available to inspect at the deposit points listed below. Copies of the representation form can also be obtained at these deposit points.
Cherwell District Council Offices, Bodicote House, Bodicote, Banbury, OX15 4AA
8.45am (10.00am Wednesday) – 5.15pm Monday –Friday
Banbury Library, Marlborough Road, Banbury, OX16 5DB
Monday9am –1pm, Tuesday9am-7pm, Wednesday9am –8pm, Thurs and Friday9am –7pm, Saturday9am – 4.30pm
Neithrop Library, Community Centre, Woodgreen Avenue, BanburyOX16 0AT
Monday10am –7pm, Tuesday Closed, Wednesday2pm –5pm, Thursday10am –1pm, Friday10am-5pm, Saturday9.30am –1pm
Bicester Town Council, The Garth, Launton Road, Bicester, OX26 6PS
Monday – Thursday9am –5pm, Friday9am –4pm
Bicester Library, Old Place Yard, Bicester OX26 6AU
Monday 9.30am –7pm, Tuesday 9.30-5pm, Wednesday and Thursday 9.30am –7pm, Friday 9.30am –5pm, Saturday9am-4.30pm
Kidlington Library, Ron Groves House, 23 Oxford Road, Kidlington, OX5 2BP
Monday 9.30am –5pm, Tuesday 9.30am –7pm, Wednesday 9.30am –1pm, Thursday 9.30am –5pm, Friday 9.30am –7pm, Saturday 9.00am – 4.30pm
Adderbury Library, Church House, High Street, Adderbury, OX17 3LS
Tuesday:10 am –12noon & 3 –7pm, Thursday:2pm –5pm & 6 –7pm, Friday:10am – 12noon &2 pm –5pm, Saturday: 9.30 am –1pm
Deddington Library, The Old Court House, Horse Fair, Deddington, Oxon. OX15 0SH
Monday2pm -5pm, 5.30pm -7pm, Tuesday Closed Wednesday 9.30am -1pm, Thursday2pm -5pm, 5.30pm -7pm Friday Closed Saturday 9.30am -1pm
Hook Norton Library, High Street, Hook Norton, Banbury,Oxon,OX15 5NH
Monday2pm-5pm,6pm-7pm, Tuesday Closed, Wednesday2pm-5pm, Thursday Closed, Friday2pm-5pm,6pm-7pm, Saturday9.30am – 12.30pm
Mobile Library Services
Copies will be available on the North, Central and West Mobile Library Services.
For details of locations and times of the mobile library visit www.oxfordshire.gov.uk or phone 01865 810240
Banbury LinkPoint, 43 Castle Quay, Banbury,Oxfordshire,OX15 5UW
8.45am (10am Wednesday) to 5.15pm Monday to Friday
Bicester LinkPoint, 38 Market Square, Bicester, Oxfordshire, OX26 6AL
8.45am (10am Wednesday) to 5.15pm Monday to Friday
Kidlington LinkPoint, Exeter Hall,Oxford Road, Kidlington,Oxon,OX5 1AB
8.45am (10am Wednesday) to 5.15pm Monday to Friday