03/03/11….Thame action group’s cattlemarket reservations

FOLLOWING the news of a proposed superstore on the site of Thame cattlemarket, the Cattlemarket Action Group (CMAG) has issued a statement this morning.

CMAG was formed several years ago with the aim of: “…ensuring that the needs of the people of Thame for an excellent, multi-purpose community development is kept high on the agenda of any discussion on the future use of the site.”

CMAG’s statement reads: “CMAG is a working group which represents many community groups in and around Thame.
Its aims are to ensure that redevelopment of the Cattle Market site in North Street best serves the needs of Thame residents and those of the surrounding villages.

“In particular, CMAG?s members would like the need for a multi-purpose, community building in the centre of Thame addressed. The current local plan states that redevelopment of the cattle market site should be a ?mixed use? development and that retail units should be limited to 2000 square metres. There is exclusion of food retail use.

“There has been no robust public discussion as to why this policy should be changed and as we welcome the advent of localism, we look forward to South Oxfordshire District Council and Thame town council engaging the people of Thame and the surrounding villages in discussion on the future of such a key site in our town.”