Issue - meetings

Approved, That Cherwell District Council raises objection to Oxfordshire County Council

The Committee considered application 18/01814/CM for the temporary use of a site as a rail unloading and aggregate storage and distribution facility, including use of existing rail link and the development of new storage and lorry loading/unloading area incorporating offices, two weighbridges, lorry loading and parking areas, maintenance shed, aggregate storage bays and conveyors linking the storage bays to the rail unloading area to the north and the creation of a new vehicular access into Waterworks Road. (OCC Ref.: MW.0116/18) at Land East Of Grimsbury Reservoir, Water Works Road, Banbury for Tarmac Trading Ltd for Tarmac Trading Ltd. Cherwell District Council was a consultee on the application which would be determined by Oxfordshire County Council.

In reaching their decision the committee considered the officers’ report, presentation and written update.

Resolved

That Oxfordshire County Council be advised that Cherwell District Council raises objections to the application for the following reasons:

Green Infrastructure

·       The site sits within a recognised existing green space as shown within the Key Policies Map for Banbury within the Cherwell Local Plan Part 1 (2011-2031) and it is not allocated for employment or other uses. The site is considered to be an environmentally sensitive location close to the River Cherwell and Local Wildlife site at Grimsbury Reservoir and partially within an area of high flood risk. The green space in this area links through to Spiceball Park creating a green space that helps to improve access to the town centre and links through to the canal and river and new public spaces.

·       Policy C5 of the Cherwell Local Plan 1996 indicates that the Council will seek to protect the ecological value and rural character of specific key features within the District, including the River Cherwell and its setting.

·       The aim of conserving and enhancing the natural environment including the green infrastructure network and ecology are also policy requirements within the Cherwell Local Plan Part 1 (ESD10, ESD13 and ESD17). This also includes improving sustainable connectivity between sites.

·       Policy Banbury 11 also looks to support the need for open space, sport and recreation and this includes 'retaining the long term objective of seeking to establish a series of open spaces based on the Oxford Canal and River Cherwell linked by public footpaths/ cycleways with the intention of creating a linear park and thoroughfare from the north of the town and Grimsbury Reservoir to the new park to be provided as part of the committed development south of Bankside. Development that would prejudice this objective will not be permitted.'

·       The Banbury Vision and Masterplan SPD (December 2016) also identifies the green space and it identifies the north-south 'green lung' improving access, opening up the canal and river, connecting places together and creating a richer, more diverse bio-environment. The Masterplan confirms that the green space network within and around Banbury should be maintained, managed and enhanced as a unified multifunctional resource to deliver the true environmental, social and economic benefits required by the residents of Banbury.

·       The proposal would undermine the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 124