Town council confusion over Cattlemarket plan

CONFUSION over a planning decision made by Thame town councillors, means that the applicant and members of the public are left believing that councillors had refused an application to build a Cattlemarket in Rycote Lane – when in fact they had changed their minds, once the public had left, over a point of procedure.
Following representations made by the applicant, Charles Castle, and Peter Bailey, speaking against the plan for Thame Farmers Mart Ltd, the casting vote of the Planning committee Chairman, Cllr Don Butler, meant that the committee recommended refusal of the plan, 4 votes to 3.

However, when Cllr David Dodds and Cllr Beatrice Dobie returned to the meeting, having left because of personal interest in the application, the committee decided that on a procedural matter, they would have to propose ‘No strong views’ on the application. Cllrs Dobie and Dodds then left the Chamber again and the committee registered its change of mind. By this time, all but two members of the public had left the meeting unaware of the committee’s change of mind.

Strong views about the proposal to move Thame Cattlemarket to a new site on Mr Castle’s land in Rycote Lane, were expressed by both speakers and councillors who disagreed about the possible increase of traffic at the Aylesbury Road roundabout, whether there would be enough space for a cattlemarket and whether or not there had been consultation with Thame Farmers Mart Ltd or Thame Show.

Twelve letters of opposition had been sent to the town council, typically raising the same issues a that sent by the Chiltern Vale Association, which included the following additional points:
* The location…would detract from the rural
landscape – Mr Castle maintained that there are
already industrial units adjacent to the proposed
site.
* The need to address the matter of effluent drainage
caused by the proposed ‘washdown’facilities

The letter expressed the view that the Thame Showground site would be the most appropriate site if the traffic difficulties could be overcome by a set of traffic lights and the proposed roundabout.

Mr Castle maintained that moving the cattlemarket to his land would relieve the pressure of traffic in the Aylesbury Road, that his plan provided ample space for expansion if required, and that the proposal would “make a visual statement to the market town ambience.”
He also said that South Oxfordshire District Council had told him that it had no intention of selling the Cattlemarket site.

Peter Bailey called the proposal “purely speculative” and said that it did not have the backing of either the farmers or the Thame Show, and would not benefit the agricultural community.

Whilst several councillors said that there was very little difference between this application and that to move the cattlemarket to the Thame Show ground, Cllr Jeanette Green said: “The major difference is that the farmers do not want this one!”