19/06/13….Bulldozers move in to The Elms

SOME residents of Thame, concerned about a proposal included in Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan to build on a green space in the town, were surprised this week to see the arrival of bulldozers to Elms Field.

Park Street, resident, Richard Jeffries, has been particularly vocal in opposing the development of the field next to Elms Park. He noticed the arrival of the bulldozers and said: “Despite the comment by Cllr Dyer on BBC Radio Oxford recently, speaking to urge a ‘yes’ vote for the now adopted Town Plan, when he said: ‘the bulldozers won’t be moving in any time soon,’ they did move in on the precious, unimproved parkland meadow of Elms field this week. Soil excavations have started with drilling and inspection pits dug.

“Local residents are horrified that such an important remnant of ancient, unimproved parkland was recommended for allocation of 45 houses in the Thame Town Plan,” went on Mr Jeffries. “Contrary to as yet unretracted claims, by Barry Yates of the Yes for Thame group, that the parkland had not been grazed for many years, locals bear witness to the fact that it was grazed until the recent purchase of the Elms by local developer, Rectory Homes. Even the previous owners of the Elms have suggested they were duped into selling their family home when they were led to believe that the ancient parkland would not be developed (Thame Gazette May 3, 2013).”

Mr Jeffries said that those against proposals to merge the Elms development with the Municipal Elms Park area believe that an area of scenic beauty and an unique ‘island’ of remnant ancient parkland habitat sitting between the Parklands of Tythrope House, Rycote House and Thame Park, will be damaged.

“This piece of land represents a ‘stepping stone’ by which plant and animal species can move between these larger sites. In their naivety, planners have postulated that Thame will be improved by partially opening up this area to the public and by ‘landscaping it’; in so doing, irreplaceable habitats and species will be lost from the area. How this development was ever rubber stamped by The Thame Town Plan is contentious,” continued Mr Jeffries. “The Elms Field has now been nominated to The Prince of Wales’s Coronation Meadows Scheme, to celebrate the Queen’s 60 year reign – a very suitable candidate I would say.”

A petition of some 500 individuals opposed to any development of the Elms has been presented to Thame Town Council and SODC. More information can be obtained by emailing: elmspetition@hotmail.co.uk

Mr Jeffries concluded: “The only way this irreplaceable piece of land can be preserved will be if sufficient numbers of people make their opinions heard, and that means lodging concerns with Thame Town Councillors and I urge everyone concerned to email or write to as many Councillors as possible to lodge their concerns.”

IMAGE; The Elms from the air