03/02/12…Time for responses to Sainsbury’s planning application extended

FOLLOWING an extension to Thame Town Council’s response time for comments on the Sainsbury’s planning application for a new supermarket (LINK), the Planning Officer in charge of the case has clarified the time scale for everyone else.

Michael Moore told Thamenews.Net today: “I want to ensure that everyone who wishes to make representations both for and against the proposal has the opportunity so to do. Equally, it is useful for me and the council’s shopping consultants, to know local views sooner rather than later as they are easier to take on board.

“I have already advised the Town Council that their normal 21 day period for comments can be extended till March 19, and I see no reason why neighbours, businesses and other interested parties cannot have the same time frame.

“However, it is preferable that representations are made in advance of that date if at all possible.”

Mr Moore’s statement clarifies some confusion locally as to when comments from the public on the Planning application had to be received by South Oxfordshire District Council’s planning department. The application registration on SODC’s website says March 1, whereas letters received by local businesses, neighbours, parish councils etc states February 20.

Hopefully it is now clear that everyone has until March 19, though it would obviously be helpful to the planning authority to begin to get some idea of the support or otherwise of the application as soon as possible. In other words, don’t leave it until the last minute!

The quickest and easiest way to comment is to go the planning appplication HERE and click on the orange COMMENT NOW button.