Fresh fight over 'Gateway' plans (From The Oxford Times)

Fresh fight over 'Gateway' plans

6:04pm Tuesday 8th September 2009

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A crucial hearing begins on Thursday to decide whether a controversial new business park can be built in North Oxford.

Oxford City Council’s plans for the Northern Gateway business park on 100 acres of land near the Pear Tree roundabout, have sparked outrage among the community in Wolvercote.

But the scheme could provide 5,000 new jobs for the city – and the council insists it is important for the area’s economy.

More than 200 people packed out a public meeting at Wolvercote Village Hall two weeks ago for their first opportunity to quiz council officials on the plans.

Dozens of residents and greenbelt campaigners are set to turn up at the Town Hall tomorrow to have their first official say on the plans in front of government planning inspector David Fenton.

They are calling for more protestors to turn up to show their opposition to the scheme.

Robert De Newtown, of opposition group ENGAGE, said: “The council has made the point that there is a need for employment land in the city, but we rebut that very strongly.

“In the phone book there are more than 150 companies who use the name Oxford located outside the city – some as far afield as Chipping Norton.

“It is important for this land to stay green and to maintain it for the beautiful and historic setting of Oxford.

Mr De Newtown, of Woodstock Road, said that by checking with the Land Registry, he had found 650 empty commercial properties available within a 10-mile radius of Oxford, proving there was not enough demand for more commercial land.

Two weeks ago Oxford West and Abingdon MP Dr Evan Harris warned the plans could destroy the nature of Oxford just to create space for companies trying to chase the name of the city.

Oxfordshire County Council has objected to the plans on traffic grounds, stating that the adjacent A34 is already operating at between 100 and 110 per cent capacity.

Local residents fear the development could add an extra 10,000 cars to an already congested area.

Rose Stevens, 38, from Upper Wolvercote said: “We would like as many people as possible to come to the hearing to demonstrate to the inspector the level of opposition to the development.”

Michael Crofton-Briggs, head of city development, said: “Detailed analysis by the council shows that, for the next 20 years, this land is required to support the economy of the city itself.

“In particular there is a pressing need for premises for science and research companies in close proximity to the two universities and hospitals in the city.

“The council fully supports the exciting proposals being brought forward at Harwell and Milton Business Parks.

“These will help the wider central Oxfordshire economy but, on their own, are not sufficient to meet the requirements of the Oxford city economy.

“A lot of technical work has already been carried out to assess the movement implications of the proposals at the Northern Gateway.

“The Highways Agency, in particular, is satisfied with what has been prepared to date and is no longer objecting to the principle of the development.”

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Paul Smith said: “We have concerns regarding the likely traffic implications of employment-led development in the Northern Gateway and remain to be convinced that adequate measures would be put in place to minimise car trips to the site, or mitigate the effects of additional traffic in this very congested location.”

The meeting starts at 9.30am tomorrow. Members of the public can still email their views on the council’s core strategy, to progofficer@aol.com.

Comments must be received by the end of the hearing on Friday.

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