PRESENT
- Cllrs Brian Leach (Chair)
- Pauline Plant
- Keith Ravenhill
- Sarah Russell
WELCOME
Cllr Leach welcomed the other Parish Councillors and thanked them for giving up their time to attend. The meeting was to discuss the proposal to develop 41 houses on land previously belonging to Crown Farm, notice of which had been received by Councillors in the two days preceding the meeting.
OBSIDIAN DEVELOPMENT
Cllr Leach began by reminding the Council that we must represent the views of the residents and therefore it is important that the PC take the temperature of the village. Obsidian will be delivering leaflets for a ‘public consultation’ bringing the proposed development to the attention of the village and it is important that we understand the thoughts and feelings of those receiving the leaflets. Cllr Ravenhill pointed out that the news was already out and circulated widely across the village.
The PC also affirmed its stance in respect of existing policies, most especially in regard to the sewerage situation and the illegal levels of dumping from the Milton under Wychwood STW, information regarding which is now publicly available. Cllr Leach reminded the PC that this is operating at twice its intended capacity and that additional housing will make that situation worse.
Cllr Russell reminded the PC of the history of the adjacent Kingerlee development, highlighting the fact that OCC had refused to allow any more surface water drainage into the at-capacity highways drainage, and that despite representations the drainage was eventually attached to the foul water system. At a recent Waterways Day hosted by WODC, Thames Water had themselves spoken of the problems with capacity caused by such connections and the role this plays in sewerage overflows.
The PC members scrutinised a map from Thames Water detailing the sewerage system in relation to the site, and the positioning on the only feasible connection points. These would lead straight into the pumping stations opposite the Swan, which has known to have experienced problems.
Access to the site from London Lane was discussed. The PC unanimously agreed that this was potentially dangerous given the narrowness of London Lane, the proximity to the privately funded primary school, the level of traffic especially during the school run and the fact that London Lane represents the route across the valley.
There followed discussion of the village infrastructure and services. Cllr Plant raised the issue of school places: Burford school (the primary catchment) is oversubscribed and siblings of those attending have been refused places.
It was noted that the timescale for submitting responses to Obsidian is short (only a week) and that there is no opportunity for a public meeting in time to meet this.
Accordingly, the PC determined that it was necessary to request feedback from the village as to their stance in regard to the development, and also to bring forward these concerns. It was agreed that given the short timescales and the need for an immediate response, Cllr Leach would draft a leaflet and poster to publicize these and that we should seek advice as to whether it was better for residents to submit feedback or to ignore the consultation until the planning application is submitted.
Meeting closed at 11:30am.