A THAME town councillor has expressed his concern that a proposed retirement development in the town could introduce an American-type gated complex.
Cllr Nigel Champken-Woods was responding to a presentation made to Thame Town Councillor?s Planning Committee, by David Barrington, the proprietor of The Spread Eagle, Thame.
Mr Barrington wants to demolish the Spread Eagle?s Banqueting suite and build 10, three storey, three-bedroomed, retirement homes in its place and on part of the current car park, because, he explained, the current lack of bookings for the suite is “effecting the profitability of the business.”
Cllr Champken-Woods made his remarks after hearing that it was proposed that both the front gates to the hotel and the rear entrance would be locked at 11pm. Other councillors expressed the view that a three bedroomed home on three storeys is not most people?s idea of a retirement home, agreeing with similar comments made by the Conservation Area Advisory Committee.
The CAAC were also concerned that an essential social facility would be lost to Thame.
Mr Barrington said that the idea of three bedrooms was so that a retired person could, for instance, have a son or daughter to stay plus a grandchild, and another councillor pointed out that some of the retirement flats in Rooks Lane were accessed by stairs.
However, the committee voted to recommend refusal of the application on the grounds of Overdevelopment, in that three storeys were not appropriate as retirement homes.
Leave a Reply