Thame to be consulted on site for cattle market

THE district council is asking residents to have their say on the best sites for relocating Thame Cattle Market, in a bid to secure the long-term future of the market.
The council?s four-week consultation will provide residents with an opportunity to say which sites they think would best accommodate the cattle market, and why. A Thame Cattle Market questionnaire and accompanying information leaflet, which outlines the background to the move and potential new sites, is available from the district and town council offices, at Thame Library, and online at: LINK

The council will also be holding an exhibition on April 14, at Thame Town Council where residents can view information on potential sites, speak to council officers, and give their opinion on their preferred option. The council will also hold a number of other exhibition events in Thame throughout the consultation period.

South Oxfordshire District Council says that: “The consultation has arisen out of the need to secure the future of the cattle market – the livestock market is important to Thame and the wider district as it is one of the few remaining in the south of England. The market needs a new location as there is limited capacity to provide new and improved facilities on the existing site, due to its size and location on the edge of the town centre.”

John Cotton, Cabinet member for planning, said:
?The council understands just how important Thame Cattle Market is to Thame and the surrounding areas. We also appreciate that any new site will have impacts for any immediate neighbours. We want to ensure that local residents are provided with the opportunity to have their say on all potential options.
?I would encourage Thame residents to complete the questionnaire online or pick up a questionnaire and leaflet from the district or town council offices, or at the local library. The exhibition on 14 April is also an ideal opportunity to speak to us and find out more about this important issue.?

Thame Cattle Market has operated from the site off North Street since the 1950s. Since 1997 approximately 20 other cattle markets in the surrounding area have closed and only six other markets within 100 miles of this site now remain.

There is considerable support in the town to develope the cattle market site (if and when it is vacated) for community use, including a community centre, perhaps some small-scale retail units, parking and some low cost housing, just some of the ideas mooted by the Thame cattle market action group (Cmag). They are to to discuss with 21C Thame, the possibility of carrying out a survey among the business community about potential use of a community building similar to that carried out by Cmag for leisure/community use.

How does the cattle market fit into the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011?

There are no specific sites allocated in the current South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011 for the relocation of the cattle market. Policy THA1 relates to the existing site and recognises that the market in North Street may stop being used for livestock purposes. The criteria for an appropriate mixed-use scheme on the market site are set out in the Local Plan. If the cattle market does stop operating on the site the council will prepare and consult on a development brief for the site at the appropriate time.

LINK
here to see some possible plans for redeveloping the cattle market site.