01/02/11….Town Council challenges legality of Core Strategy

IN its response to the latest public consultation on the Core Strategy that will determine housing and economic development in South Oxfordshire to the year 2017, Thame Town Council has challenged to legality of the process.

The Core Strategy, drawn up by South Oxfordshire District Council, has proved to be very contentious among residents and local councillors throughout the district, very few of whom want to see large housing developments in their areas.

In Thame, an earlier stage of the consultation included a public meeting in October last year, when two alternative sites in Thame, Site F and Site D, were discussed vigourously at some length. (Enter the words CORE STRATEGY in the SEARCH box, top right of any page, to read all back stories on this subject)

Some residents groups, particularly those close to site F (Oxford Road) accused both SODC and Thame Town Council of not promoting the Consultation in time for them to make a case for their preference.

SODC’s Cabinet eventually voted for the 500 homes allocated for Thame to be developed on Site F, at a five hour-long meeting which included hours of representation from the public, local councillors and developers.

THE TOWN COUNCIL’S RESPONSE

LINK HERE to read Thame Town Council’s official response to the consultation.

WHAT NEXT?

SODC has said that it will take the time to analyse the responses it receives to the consultation and make any minor amendments to the strategy. The council expects to be in a position to submit to the Secretary of State in late March 2011. The Secretary of State will appoint an independent planning inspector to scrutinise the strategy. The inspector will hold a series of hearings next summer to examine evidence from supporters, objectors and the council. The inspector will produce a report, which SODC expects to receive before the end of 2011. If the inspector decides the core strategy is sound then the council can go on to adopt it in early 2012.