Agenda item

A petition has been handed in objection to the current proposals for the redevelopment of the West Way shopping centre and the surrounding area on the grounds that the proposed uses, scale and character of development are entirely inappropriate for the local community. The full wording of the petition is set out below:

“We the undersigned petition the council to Not allow the current plans for redevelopment of the West Way shopping centre and the surrounding area to proceed and to reopen discussion with the community on a smaller scale redevelopment, in line with the ideas put forward by the Council for consultation in 2012.

We the undersigned object to the current proposals for redevelopment of the West Way shopping centre and the surrounding area on the grounds that the proposed uses, scale and character of development are entirely inappropriate for the local community.

We urge Vale of White Horse District Council not to allow these plans to proceed and to reopen discussion with the community in discussion on a smaller scale redevelopment, in line with the ideas put forward by the Council for consultation in 2012”.

The petition has both hard copy (in excess of 660) and e-petition signatures (75 at the time of publication of this agenda) in support of it.

The council’s Petition Scheme states the following regarding petition debates at Council meetings:

When petitions containing more than 500 signatures are submitted, the petition organiser will be given five minutes to present the petition and the petition will then be discussed by councillors.  Council will decide how to respond to the petition at this meeting.

In response to a petition, Council may decide to

·       take the action the petition requests;

·       not to take the action requested for reasons put forward in the debate;

·       to commission further investigation into the matter, for example by a relevant committee;

·       make recommendations to Cabinet, where the issue is one on which the Cabinet is required to make the final decision.

Council is invited to make any recommendation to Cabinet.

In accordance with the council’s Petition Scheme that provides for a Council debate of petitions containing more than 500 signatures, Council considered the following petition

“We the undersigned petition the council to not allow the current plans for redevelopment of the West Way shopping centre and the surrounding area to proceed and to reopen discussion with the community on a smaller scale redevelopment, in line with the ideas put forward by the Council for consultation in 2012.

We the undersigned object to the current proposals for redevelopment of the West Way shopping centre and the surrounding area on the grounds that the proposed uses, scale and character of development are entirely inappropriate for the local community.

We urge Vale of White Horse District Council not to allow these plans to proceed and to reopen discussion with the community in discussion on a smaller scale redevelopment, in line with the ideas put forward by the Council for consultation in 2012”.

Supporters of the petition presented two large scrolls with over 2,000 signatures and unfurled them at the meeting. 

Dr Caroline Potter addressed Council on behalf West Way Community Concern in objection to Doric’s proposals. Whilst local residents supported the regeneration of the area and would welcome an improved centre the current proposals were not suitable for a suburban neighbourhood. She raised the following points:

• The public consultation had failed to have regard to local views with no changes made to the scheme
• The proposals would turn the shopping centre into an out of town retail park with the loss of independent shops
• The proposals would change the character of the area
• Residents of Field House would be forcibly relocated
• The area would suffer road congestion

Councillor Debby Hallett moved and Councillor Matthew Barber seconded the following motion:

"Council acknowledges the strong local opposition to the proposals outlined by Doric Properties for the redevelopment of the West Way area, Botley, on the grounds that residents feel their scale is inappropriately large and completely out of character for a suburban residential area.

Council urges Cabinet to do all they can to persuade Doric Properties to meet with residents and work in partnership with the local community of Botley to find a way forward."

In moving the motion Councillor Debby Hallett stated that local residents should have a say on the scheme which would have a major impact on  their community and lives and as such council should ensure this happens.

In seconding the motion Councillor Matthew Barber acknowledged the scale of concern as shown by the petition and although the council had limited powers to change the detail it could and would encourage Doric to work with local residents.

RESOLVED:

That Council acknowledges the strong local opposition to the proposals outlined by Doric Properties for the redevelopment of the West Way area, Botley, on the grounds that residents feel their scale is inappropriately large and completely out of character for a suburban residential area.

Council urges Cabinet to do all they can to persuade Doric Properties to meet with residents and work in partnership with the local community of Botley to find a way forward.