Author: Sonja Francis

A Business plan showing possible alternative, sustainable development on the Thame Cattlemarket site, other than a supermarket, has the support of Thame Town Councillors.

At a recent meeting (14/01) between the Cattlemarket Action Group, Cmag, town councillors and Tibbalds who are helping draw up a Thame Town Plan, it was revealed that the independent Tibbalds feedback exercise had demonstrated that residents did not want Sainsbury?s, and that a large community space was required.

It was agreed that if a feasibility study for mixed use development on the Cattle Market site and a viable business plan for a new community facility could be produced for the site, it would really help to support what the Town Plan is able to say about the site.

Hilary Satchwell, Tibbalds Urban Design (in the Chair), pointed out that the existing Local Plan did not allow for a supermarket on the Cattle Market site, and the retail study said there was no need for one, adding that evidence nonetheless was helpful.

The meeting notes state that it was recognised that SODC (Ed. who own the site and currently lease it to The Cattle market operators) would be looking for the best financial return, and if a viable business plan was available it might show SODC that there were other options. If Sainsbury?s did not get planning approval then they (SODC) would have to look at other approaches for the site. (Ed. The lease runs out in 16 years time)

The ten Councillors present, including the Mayor David Bretherton, were very keen that a feasibility study/business plan should be produced and that this (or an outline of it) should ideally fit in with the timescales of the Town Plan. It was suggested that the matter should be placed on the January 31, Culture, Leisure & Recreation Committee agenda and the Cllr Bretherton said that he would discuss it with the clerk on her return from holiday. (Ed. To date, it is not on the agenda)

INCLUDES CORE STRATEGY LATEST: DESPITE being taken ill during an afternoon ministerial visit elsewhere, Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Minister of State for Communities and Local Government, dropped into Thame last night to see how Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan was progressing.

Mr Clark, accompanied by Thame’s MP, John Howell, met some of the key contributors to Thame?s Neighbourhood Plan project, including councillors of various levels and representatives from local community and residents’ groups. The evening included short presentations and a chance for guests to ask questions.

Unfortunately Mr Clark did not feel up to a press call after the meeting, which was only open to an invited audience.

John Howell is Greg Clark’s Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) and was involved in the production of the policy document ?Open Source Planning?, much of which became the foundation for the Localism Bill.

Thame Town Council said: “Thame is one of a few towns selected as a front runner for Neighbourhood Planning and this visit gave the Minister an opportunity to observe Neighbourhood Planning in action and to engage with, and learn from, the people involved at grass roots level.”

LATEST: Thame Neighbourhood Plan and the Core Strategy

THE Core Strategy Examiner (due to announce his full conclusions in February) has indicated his intention to rule that site allocations for proposed housing development in Thame should be determined by the people of Thame through the Neighbourhood Plan. His latest report states:

“The Neighbourhood Plan for Thame will allocate land for 775 new homes on land selected through that process as the most appropriate and sustainable. If Thame Neighbourhood Plan (TNP) has not been adopted by April 01, 2014, the reserve site (site F) would be released for 400 homes and the balance of Thame?s allocation of 775 homes would then be identified either through the Neighbourhood Plan or a Site Allocations DPD.

“The reserve site referred to above is intended only as a contingency measure to ensure a 5-year housing supply if the TNP is not adopted by April 01, 2014. Unless it becomes necessary to invoke this provision TNP will be free to distribute the required number
of allocations at Thame among such selected sites as may be deemed most appropriate and sustainable.

** ED. The above section of the Inspector’s report as been amended (28/01) following a challenge to its legality from those with interests in Site D. This section now reads:

“According to the current programme and expectations, Thame Neighbourhood Plan (TNP) should be adopted in plenty of time to avoid a hiatus in land supply even if adoption were to be delayed considerably beyond its original programmed date.

“Although I was previously inclined to agree with SODC that inclusion of a contingency/reserve allocation could mitigate any negative effects arising from failure to adopt TNP by April 2014, any such action needs to be proportionate to the degree of risk. The NP process appears to have been widely welcomed and there is no evidence to suggest that TNP will not succeed in reaching timely adoption. Nor has there been any opportunity to discuss the need for, or the form and scope of, any contingency measure. I therefore reach the revised conclusion that, in relation to the risk, it is unnecessary and inappropriate to include the requested contingency
measure: in short, the CS (Core Strategy) would not be unsound without one. The District Council will be closely engaged at all stages of the NP process and would have the opportunity, in accordance with policy CSC1, to consider the implications for land supply and the way that any likely future shortfall should be addressed in the (currently unlikely) event that the TNP did not make progress as reasonably expected.” ** END OF AMENDMENT

“Provision of additional housing will help to support the town centre?s attraction in relation to nearby centres and maintain Thame?s services and facilities.

The overall strategy is to provide 775 additional houses to 2027 on sites selected by a neighbourhood plan.

“The selected sites will need to have a form and character which meet identified needs and be planned comprehensively in accordance with agreed design briefs reflecting policies CSQ1-4 and other relevant policies in the Local Development Framework. The developments should avoid building on areas of land within flood zones 2 and 3, provide safe pedestrian and cycle links to the town centre, and make provision (or provide contributions towards) such necessary supporting infrastructure as is set out in the infrastructure delivery plan.”

PHOTO: The Minister (left) with Thame’s Mayor David Bretherton (centre) and John Howell MP

FOLLOWING the huge success of last year’s Thame Tidy Day, when phone boxes were painted, bus stops cleaned, benches repaired, weeds from gutters removed, hedges trimmed and pathways cleared, as well as the whole town being blitzed of litter, plans are now under way to repeat the event.

Cllr Adam Buckland, the proprietor of Brothers Hair Salon in the town, set the ball rolling last year when he was Mayor.

Adam said today: “The date has been set for Sunday, March 25, and I am trying to arrange a meeting in the near future to get everyone involved together to recap on last year and see if anyone has any ideas to make this year’s event even bigger and better!
olu or your community group would like to take part and also if you know of any other groups who would like to be involved?

“I’ll then send out a few dates of possible meeting times (last year me met on a Monday around 6pm.)

“Onwards and upwards!”

You can contact Adam by email: adambuck1@aol.com

PHOTO: Adam Buckland and the team survey the rubbish collected during last year’s Thame Tidy Day

A man who admitted breaking into two Thame shops and stealing a total of