A PLAN for a new superstore on Thame’s cattlemarket is set to reignite controversy in the town.
In a statement, the supermarket giant, Sainsbury’s have said: “Sainsbury?s is bringing forward plans for a new foodstore at the site of Thame Cattle Market which would facilitate the relocation of the Market to Thame Showground.
“The operators of the Cattle Market have already secured planning permission for a new Market at the Showground as relocation is crucial to its future. The agreement with Sainsbury?s to develop the existing North Street site would enable the relocation to happen and thereby secure the future of the Cattle Market in the town.”
Sainsbury?s Development Executive Andrew Sanderson said: ?Our High Street store which opened last year has proved to be popular but its size means that the range of goods that we can offer customers is limited.
?Many residents currently leave the town to undertake their main food shopping. A new, larger Sainsbury?s on the Cattle Market site with increased shopper car parking would help to retain trade in the town and underpin the vibrancy of the town centre.?
A MODERN CATTLEMARKET ‘VITALLY IMPORTANT’
Brian Lloyd, Chairman of Thame Cattle Market said: ?The Cattle Market is vitally important to the town and the rural economy in this area. We need to move to a new facility in order to meet the requirements of modern farming, including increased bio-security and animal welfare standards. The agreement with Sainsbury?s will secure the future of the Cattle Market in Thame and is an opportunity that we cannot afford to miss.?
Martin Hector, Thame Show Chairman said: ?The relocation of the Cattle Market to the Showground will create a synergy that will benefit the local agricultural industry and help support the future of the Thame Show.?
FITNESS CENTRE REASSURED
Racquets Fitness Centre, which is based in the Cattlemarket, said in a message to its members yesteday, that Sainsbury’s has taken up a conditional agreement with all of the leaseholders on the cattlemarket, including them, to buy the site.
Reassuring its members, Racaquets said: “As you will all be aware, we have recently been investing in the facilities at the club and this investment will continue. The granting of planning permission is not a foregone conclusion so it will be business as usual for us at Racquet’s until then.
“If the sale of Racquet’s at the cattlemarket does go through it is our intention to relocate, and we have already identified two potential sites and have had preliminary discussions with the site owners.”
AGAINST THE LOCAL PLAN
Thame Town Council’s response to the plan is unequivocal: “Town Council has pointed out that such a proposal is against South Oxfordshire District Council?s current Local Plan. The Plan states that food supermarkets should be excluded from any development at the Cattle Market site (Policy THA1). The policy also identifies ?mixed-use development? for the site, which could include community facilities with ?assembly and leisure uses?.
“Just as the Town Council considered it to be essential that residents were made fully aware of the repercussions of SODC?s Core Strategy, so it believes that the views of local people must be heard on this issue. The Council will hold Initial discussions with representatives of community groups next week, in line with its desire to represent the needs of the community now and in the future. The Council itself is keeping an open mind at this stage.
“The land in question on North Street is owned by South Oxfordshire District Council. This means that any agreement with Sainsbury?s, as to the cessation of the Cattle Market?s tenancy and the subsequent sale of the land at North Street, would be their decision. The District Council is also the Planning Authority and, as such, makes the final decision on planning applications.”
Sainsbury’s says that at this stage, the plan is only at the conceptual stage and that no planning application will be submitted until after their Public Consultation.