Town needs homes built 'to survive' (From The Oxford Times)

Without new housing, firms will fail, it is claimed

8:00am Wednesday 15th September 2010 in News By Liam Sloan

Town needs homes built 'to survive'

A LEADING Wallingford businessman says hundreds of houses must be built in the town — or firms will go bust and young people will leave.

In a broadside to local politicians and pressure groups opposing development in the town, David Bosley, 39, who last year set up the Wallingford Enterprise Centre, said opponents of the new housing developments risked “loving Wallingford to death”.

He said he was speaking out because shopkeepers were scared to voice their fears in case it alienated customers.

Mr Bosley, of Kennedy Crescent, Cholsey, said: “Many towns throughout the county would be delighted to have the opportunities currently on the table for Wallingford.

“But local politicians and the local council are so immersed in their blinkered, middle-England, ‘We’re alright Jack’ attitudes that they are much more concerned with opposing any sort of change, rather than embracing any opportunities.

“In reality, opposition to housebuilding will cause businesses to fail, jobs to be lost and Wallingford to decline further from its historic past as a thriving market town.”

He said: “Development is the lifeblood of a town — it brings money, jobs, commerce, facilities, infrastructure and people. It is extremely irresponsible to be so resistant to this great opportunity.”

But Wallingford’s mayor, Bernard Stone, said he rejected Mr Bosley’s characterisation of the town council’s stance, saying it welcomed limited development in the town.

Mr Bosley, who is a beneficiary of the family trust that owns the Winterbrook development site, said he was increasingly frustrated by widespread opposition to housebuilding while firms in Wallingford were struggling to survive.

He said: “Most of the retailers in the town are not really drawing any salary or making money from their businesses any longer, and they have not done for some time.

“There is no doubt, whatsoever, that unless we can reinvigorate the town, we will lose the independent retailers.”

He said businesses had tried to reduce their rents to stay afloat, but big institutional landlords had refused to negotiate. Meanwhile, young people were being priced out of the housing market, he added.

Shopkeepers told the Wallingford Herald that speaking publicly about the need for houses could harm their trade.

One said: “Wallingford has remained with the same population for 35 years, while all the neighbouring towns have expanded enormously.

“Every retailer is in favour of expanding their customer base.

“Wallingford has stood still for too long and the critical mass needed to sustain business has gone up as rents and rates have gone up.”

Another added: “The retail situation started to decline when the new Waitrose was built, but now we need more housing to bring more people here.

“We need to look to the future and build houses so people born and bred in Wallingford actually have a future here.”

Mr Stone said: “It has always been the town council’s view that we would welcome some expansion of Wallingford and some new housing.

“The only issue is the scale. Wallingford has limited infrastructure, and it has to be the correct balance.”

He said the town council believed 350 new homes was suitable, which when added to developments in Cholsey, Benson and Crowmarsh would add up to 1,000 extra homes in the area.

l See letter: Page 6