Agenda item

Public participation

Members of the public who wish to address Council on the agenda item for this meeting must register to do so in writing or by email to democratic.services@southandvale.gov.uk no later than 5.00pm on Monday 14 May  2018. 

 

Minutes:

The chairman advised that a number of members of the public had registered to address Council. Council agreed to extend the public speaking time to allow each member of the public who had registered to speak three minutes to make their address.

Council received addresses from eight members of the public. 

 

Ian Goldsmith, Chairman of Cuxham with Easington Parish, addressed Council against the inclusion of the Chalgrove Airfield site in the local plan. He stated that the traffic from the new housing would adversely impact on the village.  He urged Council to support option two: removing the Chalgrove Airfield housing allocation from the local plan and to put an end to the uncertainty. 

 

Ann Pritchard, Chairman of Chalgrove Parish Council, addressed Council against the inclusion of Chalgrove Airfield as a strategic housing allocation site.  Whilst welcoming Cabinet’s revised recommendation she urged Council to remove the Chalgrove Airfield site from the local plan. She stated that more sustainable alternative sites existed closer to Oxford and Science Vale. She stated that it was not feasible to build on an active airfield site, that Martin Baker is the sole manufacturer of ejector seats and that the forced relocation of Martin Baker, a major employer, would result in job losses.  

 

Caroline Baird spoke on behalf of Save Culham Green Belt. She welcomed Cabinet’s recommendation to reassess sites capable of becoming site allocations and believed this was necessary before releasing Green Belt land for development. She urged Council to review the housing numbers now that the government required lower housing numbers.  She stated that Culham is not a suitable strategic housing site.  There were no exceptional circumstances to build on the Green Belt, the existing road and rail infrastructure was insufficient for the proposed development site, employment opportunities would not be available locally for the new residents and the development itself would lead to the merging of Culham with Abingdon and Didcot. 

 

Steven Sensecall, from Carter Jonas representing UKAEA, urged Council to support option three (retain Chalgrove Airfield with an additional site). The anticipated growth at Culham Science Centre, Science Vale and the Didcot Garden Town project required improved highway infrastructure and housing. Any delay in the delivery of the local plan could impact on the economic potential of the district.

 

Michael Tyce, representing the Campaign to Protect Rural England, addressed Council. He stated that the housing numbers contained in the local plan are in excess of local need. A reduction in the numbers to reflect the government’s revised housing numbers would allow for the removal of both the Chalgrove Airfield and Culham sites (the former being undeliverable) and remove the need to meet Oxford City’s unmet housing need. In his view the Growth Deal is driving the housing numbers and sacrificing the Green Belt.  

 

Paul Boone spoke on behalf of Chalgrove Airfield Action Group expressing cautious support for Cabinet’s revised recommendations whilst supporting option two and the removal of the Chalgrove Airfield site.  He stated that Martin Baker would oppose any attempt by Homes England to compulsorily purchase the site and as such the site is not deliverable.  

 

Dr Peter Kirby, a resident of Culham, addressed Council regarding the site allocation at Culham. He questioned the long-term employment opportunities offered by Culham Science Centre which, in his view, does not provide a justification for housing and will not provide large scale employment opportunities in the future.

 

Sam Casey-Rerhaye, representing Culham Parish Council, addressed Council in support of Cabinet’s recommendation to undertake a review of the local plan.  She expressed the view that, in light of the government’s published revised housing figures and the council’s achievement of a five year land supply, the drivers for housing had gone. The local plan must reflect the genuine housing needs of the district and the Green Belt must be protected.

 

The chairman thanked the speakers for their contribution. 

 

 

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