Third Time Lucky For Thame Cattle Market?

A PLAN for the relocation of Thame cattle market and development of a new single storey cattle market, car parking, new access and ancillary activities at Thame Show Ground, has been lodged for the third time with the local planning authority.
A similar plan has been rejected twice before, following concerns by Thame Town Councillors about increased danger to Lea Park residents trying to pull out on to the by-pass, and drainage concerns.
As soon as a Planning Officer has been allocated to the case by South Oxfordshire District Council, a consultation process will begin between the Applicant, Developer, Bob Williams and the local authority.
Thame Cattlemarket’s move from it present site in North Street, Thame, is supported by the current market operators, Thame Farmers Mart Ltd, who say they are increasingly unable to expand and cope with new bio-safety rules at the current site. The move is also supported by the operators of the annual Oxfordshire and Thame Show, who say that one or two wet years could see the end of the Thame Show, which is struggling to survive and needs permanent facilities that it can offer to others users throughout the rest of the year, to continue to be financially viable.
The last time a similar plan went before SODC’s Planning committee, the vote was tied and the Chairman Pearl Slatter?s casting vote, supporting the officer recommendation for refusal, won the day.