22/08/13 Thame council dissatisfied with new housing development plan

THAME Town Council is to recommend to the local planning authority, SODC, a Holding Objection to a development plan for 175 new homes in the town, until it reflects additional aspects of the Thame Neighbourhood Plan.

After discussion of a REPORT by the council’s Planning Consultant, Jake Collenge, the council voted to include three more issues; possible light pollution from street lamps, better footpath linkages to the public rights of way from Thame Park across the way from the proposed development and improving the safety of the pedestrian/cycle route from the proposed site (Site D – Land to the west of Thame Park Road) to the Phoenix Trail and through the Jane Morbey Road development.

Central to Jake Collinge’s report was the point that the plan: “…lacks any clear pathway as to how the design will reflect the qualities of Thame, and how it will be implemented.” 

As well as some technical ‘inconsistances’ in the plans, he draws attention to a missed opportunity to include a riverside walk near the boundary of the development where the Cuttlebrook runs, as aspired to in the Thame Neighbourhood Plan.

(See link to REPORT above for his other recommendations) 

Cllr David Dodds said that there was ‘considerable heartache’ to residents in part of Youens Drive, by Atlett employees who use the cul-de-sac, and that some sort of traffic management needed to happen there.

“This plan has got to be cast iron in reflecting the Neighbourhood Plan,” he added, “before we can accept it.”

The amended report will need to be ratified at the next full town council meeting.

There is just one week left of the public consultation on the plan. See PREVIOUS NEWS ITEM

IMAGE: Part of the Concept plan of the proposed development Courtesy of http://www.civicstudio.co.uk/