Thame police station demolition begins – against councils’ wishes

DEMOLITION work has now begun of the old Thame Police Station in Greyhound Walk, despite opposition from both the district and town councils, following a successful second appeal to a planning inspector on September 28, 2018.

Thame Police Station in Greyhound Lane before demolitilon

The site was sold by Thames Valley Police to Churchill Retirement Living Ltd. under an agreement made in 2013. An initial planning application for retirement homes on the site was refused in 2014. A subsequent planning appeal brought about by Churchill was also turned down in early 2016. Churchill sought permission again for a revised scheme of 41 retirement flats, later in 2016.

Although now effectively being built within planning law, the Town Council has expressed concerns about the amount of amenity space, potential noise and air quality issues and where residents may park their vehicles. The council has also said that visitors, delivery companies and support services may also have problems with access and parking. In in a letter of opposition to the plans, sent to the planning inspector, Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Officer wrote:

“The design leads to a natural height restriction to the site’s parking area and main entrance. This will certainly prevent access by emergency and patient transfer ambulances, day care minibus transport, many delivery vehicles and all of the District’s refuse vehicles. The main access is off a short, sloping approach road that has a no-waiting restriction, applied because of highways safety concerns.”

Legal advice

Having taken legal advice about challenging the planning inspector’s decision that there would be significant cost and little chance of the challenge succeeding, the town council has now said: “With regret, the decision has therefore been made to take no further action in this specific matter. The Town Council is deeply disappointed at this outcome and will continue to do all it can to prevent being overruled by such poor decisions in the future.”