08/03/11….Thame residents opposed to Site F band together

RESIDENTS along the Oxford Road, Thame, unhappy that they were not consulted about where 500 new homes should go in the town, have formed their own residents association.

Spokesperson, Ron Swanson, explained: “The Oxford Road Residents Association covers the dwellings west of Cuttle Brook. A sister group has been formed for the dwellings east of Cuttle Brook and called Priest End Residents Association.

“These residents groups have arisen from the unsatisfactory way in which the decision by SODC was made to change from supporting development on Site D to choose Site F instead. It was clear that nobody truly represented the views and opinions of the residents of Oxford Road in any part of the consultation process.”

ORRA represents residents of Highfield Close, Oxford Road, Jubilee Gardens, Town Farm Close, Cuttle Brook Gardens and any other residents within the catchment area (of Site F) to the west of the Cuttlebrook.

Ron Swanson continued: “We have been in discussion with the other, newly formed Priest End RA and they will represent residents from the east side of the Cuttlebrook.”

In a letter to Thame Town Council and copied to SODC, informing them of the formation of the Oxford Road Residents Association(ORRA,) the ORRA stated:

“The residents in the ORRA catchment area were extremely disappointed at the lack of representation they had at the meeting TTC held with a number of Residents Associations, in the Spread Eagle in September 2010, before the Site D/Site F fiasco that ensued. It was also clear that the RA closest to the west of Thame, Chiltern Vale, did not and does not, represent the views and opinions of the residents within our newly formed RA.”

Representation from the ORRA will be attending a meeting tonight with town councillors and other residents’ associations, to discuss Sainsbury’s plans for the Cattlemarket.

PHOTO: Flashback to public consultation by Thame Town Council last October