Petition launched opposing Thame supermarket plans

A GROUP opposed to a supermarket being built on the outskirts of Thame, has launched a petition calling on the local planning authority to reject the planning application, as it believes the proposal goes against the Thame Neighbourhood Plan.

Photo: Nick White Photography

The group, Thame Centre First, wants South Oxfordshire District Council to reject Tesco’s planning application for an edge-of-town superstore on the DAF site at Howland Road, Thame, a petrol station and office accommodation.

Thame Centre First states that its aim is to ensure that: “Thame town centre continues to thrive by resisting edge-of-town retail development,” and that close to thirty town centre retailers have signed up to support the campaign along with all five of Thame’s residents’ associations. Sue Gilbert, of Thame Centre First, said: “A key policy in Thame’s award-winning Neighbourhood Plan champions the town centre by requiring new retail development to be focused within the town centre boundaries. The Neighbourhood Plan also states that Thame’s retail needs within the next 12 years will not require development of more than 600sq m of convenience and food retail, whereas the Tesco development is planned to be 6.5 times this size.”

Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan received overwhelming local support in a 2013 referendum and attracted national recognition as the the winner in the Innovative Plan-Making category of the RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence in 2014.

Sue continued: “The majority of shop owners have grave concerns for their businesses as the planned superstore would draw shoppers away from the town centre and reduce footfall.”

Robert Stanley Opticians has a branch on Cornmarket and their managing director, John Edwards, added his voice: “Thame is one of the few thriving town centres because it has focused attention on the centre. This proposal would undermine the vitality and character of the town centre.”

The consultation period for the planning application is now open and runs until June 25, 2015. Anyone wishing to support the campaign can add their name to an e-petition on the SODC website LINK HERE. In addition, a paper petition is available for signing in a number of shops in the town centre who are supporting the campaign.

Alex Taylor, another member of Thame Centre First says: “Local residents should not stand by and allow this development to be approved, risking irrevocable changes to the character of Thame. If you genuinely care about living in a vibrant market town, please support this important petition and fight against edge-of-town retail development.”

Those local residents who support the Tesco proposal, disagree with the Thame Centre First group’s view that the proposed store would damage the High Street, and are of the view that it would attract people to Thame. Some are of the view that the proposed store would be convenient for particularly older people living at that end of town. Tesco itself has said that a survey it has conducted showed that such a store would prevent local people going out of Thame to Asda, Wheatley and other supermarkets, to do their weekly shopping.

You can view the FULL Planning application here LINK

For further information on Thame Centre First, visit LINK or  follow TCF on Twitter at @ThameCentre1st, or to email info@thamecentrefirst.org
Previous posts on this subject: https://www.thame.net/page/2?s=Tesco
‘For’ Tesco Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Say-Yes-to-an-out-of-town-Tesco-store-In-Thame