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A speculative planning application for up to 129 dwellings, a 68 bed care home, and 1511sqm of office space on the whole of Kingsmead Business Park, the old DAF site, has been rejected by South Oxfordshire District Council.

Representatives from Thame Town Council attended the meeting yesterday, to explain the town council’s objections to the proposed development of this piece of land, designated in the Thame Neighbourhood Plan for Employment purposes. TTC disagreed that appropriate marketing had been done to dispose of the site for Warehousing or similar purposes, that would provide more employment to the town. It also maintained that there was no identfied need for a care home of the type proposed, and that it would put pressure on local facilities such as doctors, etc. Despite SODC’s Planning Chief recommending acceptance of the plans, the district council’s Planning Committee
voted 6 – 1, to reject it.

In response to the decision, the town council stated: “There were particular concerns expressed that the marketing efforts to keep the site alive as a Business Park were insufficient to overrule the relevant employment policies that allocate the land for employment use only. The Town Council will continue to protect allocated employment land where it can, to avoid Thame becoming a dormitory town like so many others. Thank you for everyone’s support.”

In its application, the developer suggested, among other benefits, that the proposal would:

• deliver sustainable development comprising beneficial use of an underutilised brownfield site within the urban area;
• Comprises high quality care facilities that address an identified need and that will contribute towards meeting the housing requirements of Thame and
• generate beneficial employment opportunities

Background

Angle Property Limited, purchased the Kingsmead Business Park (including the DAF site), and launched a public consultation with the apparent objective of securing community support for building a care home on the site. This was after they had already gained planning permission for Government initiated, ‘Permitted Development Rights’ to convert the DAF building to 45 flats….against the wishes of Thame Town Council.

You can view the full application/s HERE

THE High Court accepted Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust’s (BBOWT) claim against the government regarding the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway at an oral hearing at the High Court yesterday.

After having been refused permission in January to bring a claim against the government, the charity applied to the court to revisit its decision at today’s hearing, and have expessed their delight that the original decision has been overturned.

In November 2018, BBOWT issued a claim in the High Court, challenging the government’s failure to commission a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) or a Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) as part of the process of selecting a ‘Growth Corridor’ within which the Expressway, which will included associated housing being built.

BBOWT’s arguement is that the government had failed to assess the environmental impact of its plans, before choosing the corridor of land within which the Expressway and related housing will be built.

Government ‘ignored European law’

In response to the High Court decision, Matthew Stanton, Head of Planning, Policy and Advocacy, at Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust, said: “We are so pleased with today’s decision surrounding the government’s proposed corridor for the Oxford-Cambridge Expressway. We were forced to bring legal proceedings because the government has completely ignored European law, which requires a Strategic Environmental Assessment for schemes that impact on the environment such as this.

‘Future generations may not forgive us’

“Today shows us that the government has a case to answer and we look forward to fighting for wildlife at the full hearing. We will continue to scrutinise the government’s future consultations, defend wildlife in the planning process, and make sure that the potential impact of this concrete corridor is fully assessed and made public. The Oxford to Cambridge Expressway could be a disaster for wildlife, and future generations may not forgive us.”

Tom Short, solicitor for BBOWT, said: “The court has agreed with our client that there is an arguable case to be heard and we look forward to a substantive hearing of the important issues raised. BBOWT believes that the Government has failed to properly consider at an early stage the environmental consequences of a major infrastructure project.

‘Members of the public alienated from the process’

“Although a public consultation is due to take place, the Government has missed a key opportunity to listen to the public and environmental organisations and ensure that their concerns are taken into account early in the decision-making process. By ignoring concerns and refusing to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment, key stakeholders and members of the public have been alienated from the process.”

Background

At the end of October 2018, the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave his support for the National Infrastructure Commission’s recommendation to build up to one million new homes in the vicinity of the Expressway. This could see the number of homes across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes nearly double.

The preferred route, Route B, for the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway has been announced. The corridor will be broadly aligned with the proposed East-West rail route from Abingdon to south Milton Keynes via Winslow. It is yet to be decided whether the route will pass west or east of Oxford following public consultation in Autumn 2019.

The government said the proposed Expressway will create vital jobs, skills and housing and that it will take up to 40 minutes off the journey time between the A34 south of Oxford and the M1.

Support from other wildlife groups

BBOWT has the support of The Wildlife Trusts nationally, and witness statements backing thei case have been supplied by RSPB, Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), Plantlife and Horton cum Studley Expressway Group. The Trust also has the support of the River Thame Conservation Trust and The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, and some parish councils located within the areas that are in danger of being affected by the development.

BBOWT has stated that it is calling for a legal commitment in the forthcoming Environment Act to the production of Nature Recovery Network maps that require decision makers to work within environmental limits and ensures we pay back the damage of the past by restoring our ecosystems.

** More information about the Oxford Cambridge Express Way, including maps can be viewed on Highways England’s website HERE

THIS year’s Artweek, February 11-15, saw John Hampden School in Thame go wild and – untamed! Pupils felt the sand beneath their feet and the sun on their faces as they explored the Savannah on an art safari.

The school’s Arts Coordinator, Jackie Nichols, described what went on the Thame Primary school, in Park Street.

“The hall became a watering hole at dusk, with an African bull elephant dominating the scene, as the animals of the plain came to quench their thirst.

Crocodiles laid in wait. A zebra, unaware of the danger, stopped to have a drink. Hippos lurked beneath the water whilst the king of the jungle relaxed on a poolside, rocky crag. Colourful birds flew in to roost as the sun sank below the horizon and a crash of rhinos and elephants burst through to join the party!

“It was an African-action-packed Artweek full of exhilarating activities. Children from Nursery to Year Six experienced; African animal masks (with artist Emily Cooling); the whole school got rhythmic with an African drumming and dancing assembly and workshops; artist, Liam Biswell, brought his press and wowed us with his wild prints; we had a visit from an award winning author and illustrator, Catherine Rayner, who added ‘Augustus on his holidays!’ (Her trademark tiger character) to our Savannah scene – we all had a wild time in the hall creating art!

“We were helped by our own tribe of art warriors (nearly 60 helpers – thank you to all those who volunteered!), parents, grandparents, governors, carers, artists, teachers, town councillors and teaching assistants, old and new, who volunteered to support us in our African adventure. What an amazing community spirit JHS has!

“The John Hampden PTFA funded the week, with their usual, generous donation which enabled the school to provide a wealth of experiences and resources for the children to enjoy! The Artsweek Quiz saw the children challenged to identify a gallery of animal masks created by JHS staff. Each mask was accompanied by clues to guide the children in their guesses as to whose mask was whose- giving hints as to the staff artist, for a whole school competition.
Well done to Issac Bishop for his winning entry! Well done as well to Phoebe Allen and Taylor Spink for being crowned the winners of the Artsweek shield for their participation this year.

“At the end of the week, the brave JHS friends and family ventured into the bush (The Jackson Hall!), to catch a glimpse of our rare art at the Friday Artsweek Fair-Trade Café camp mash up.

“So, brush the sand from your safari suit and take off your pith helmet. The adventure may be over, but we have our wall-sized album to bring back the memories for weeks to come, as well as our time lapse video and iMovie of the events.

“How will we top this one? Send your ideas for next year to Ms Nichols!”

YOU may have noticed pictures of Romans in the window of the Thame Citizen’s Advice Bureau in Montesson Square. So, what’s it all about you may wonder?

Well, if you pop along to Thame Museum, which has now reopened after a winter break, you will be able to find out more about how the Romans lived in Thame.

The museum has also obtained two replica models; a farmhouse that may be similar to one in Roman Thame and a model of a working corn dryer, similar to several found at Thame Meadows. You can see these in the Main Gallery of the Museum.

Roman Thame had a significant farming community. The site of the current Thame Meadows housing estate, in Oxford Road, revealed a large thriving Roman settlement with paddocks and enclosures, corn dryers, kilns, ovens and a stone-lined well.

While full details of the dig are yet to be published, Thame Museum is beginning to share what is known so far and you can read previous Thame.News reports about the dig’s finds HERE and HERE

A GROUP of students from Lord Williams’s school in Thame, joined hundreds of other school children in Oxford, and 15,000 children from around the country, in today’s Youth Strke for Climate – and in an open letter to MP John Howell, have criticised the government for its ‘lack of action’ over climate change.

Alfie Richards, Senior Student at Lord Williams’s school, who attended today’s mass demonstration with Head Boy, Max Spokes and other fellow students, told Thame.net: “I and my fellow students decided to strike out of the desperation for the state of global warming. We see political cycle after political cycle never giving environmental issues the sincerity they require. We want to join this international movement to show how important this issue is to our generation.”

‘There isn’t a more important issue to be energised by’

David Wybron, Headteacher at Lord Williams’s school, writing in a letter to parents and carers, said: “Whilst not authorising their (the students’) participation in a day of action, I did say to them that I thought it was important for young people to protest and be angry about what generations of politicians have been doing, or not doing, in terms of dealing with climate change. There isn’t a more important issue to be energised by.”

On a more cautionary note however, he continued: “They have written a very powerful letter to John Howell MP. In the future, I would hope that any student actions are more about making a more obvious sacrifice in terms of raising awareness. They are taking part in an international event, not of their organising. I would hope that if protests take place on such an important issue, they will be in different ways and during half-term or on a Saturday perhaps. I am not aware of any other planned actions and do not expect other students to protest and miss school. The last time student action took place over university grants, six years ago, there were far too many students who took the day off and were not really aware of the reasons for doing so. That is an unprincipled thing to do.”

Max and Alfie’s open letter to John Howell MP, reads:

Dear John Howell MP,
“We, as individuals as well as a group of Sixth Form students, have written to you several times in the past, voicing our concerns at the lack of action and emphasis that our government has shown towards the greatest threat to our future: anthropogenic climate change.

“The government’s inability to treat this issue with the sincerity it deserves has resulted in our joining the Youth Strike 4 Climate, which is taking place across the country on Friday the 15th of February. As our representative in Parliament, we ask for your explicit support in undertaking this action, and for you to raise this issue of such overwhelming importance in Parliament, thus showing genuine concern for the future of our generation which, without action now will struggle to live with the consequences of anything above a 2 degrees rise in average global temperatures.

“A UNICEF report this month found that a child in the UK is admitted to hospital as a result of breathing harmful air every 20 minutes, and in 86% of the UK, levels of nitrogen dioxide are above legal limits set by this government; Friends of the Earth estimates this costs the UK health services and businesses more than £20bn every year. Yet our government continues to support the fossil fuel industry with over £10bn a year, whilst spending only £7bn on renewable energy. Inevitably you will counter our claims by responding that this government is on track to reduce carbon emissions from the energy sector by 80% by 2050, relative to 1990 levels. However, the UN IPCC report in 2018 warned that we have 12 years to take serious mitigation measures to protect our climate, therefore, this government’s lack of action now will mean that by 2050, the effects of climate change will be too far gone to reverse.

“In a recent email, you wrote that: “The manifesto on which I and all Conservative MPs were elected last year also promised that we should be the ‘first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we inherited it in.’ Why then, might we ask, have emissions from agriculture and waste increased since 1990, and why have transport contributions fallen by just 2 percent since 1990? Your party has been in government for nine years now, the time for delay is over.

“Rather than promote renewable energy schemes, this government has cut solar panel grants by 65% and at the end of last year, announced a possible end to these grants from next month. This environmental indifference by the government resulted in a 56 percent fall in renewable energy investment in 2017.

“Rather than leaving our generation in a better place, the UK government has demonstrated an utter lack of impetus, energy or enthusiasm in tackling the greatest threat to our planet’s future.

“This short-sightedness cannot continue; we urge you to consider and act upon this letter.”

Yours sincerely,
Max Spokes (Head Boy), Alfie Richards (Senior Student)
Lord Williams’s School, Thame