Hotel plan recommended for refusal (From The Oxford Times)

Dilligaf2010 says...
7:58pm Sun 1 Jul 12

Oh of course, we can't have riff-raff staying in Oxford!
Why refuse it, it's just off the A34, prime location to generate income for Oxford.
I guess £63 a night isn't good enough for the area, especially when you can stay a night at the Four Pillars for £179!

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Vernon Spools says...
8:50pm Sun 1 Jul 12

What we need is not hotels but more tescos and Sainsburys.

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wheatleyox says...
9:03pm Sun 1 Jul 12

we need more hotels , ideal position , so why not ??
council have no idea , yet again

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Oflife says...
9:34pm Sun 1 Jul 12

Abingdon Road (perhaps that burned out pub?) would be a superb location . Unlike some pubs, hotels bring no bagage with then (noise etc) and help the local economy. Most of the other Oxford hotels are in the centre of town, making them difficult to park near, whilst an Abingdon Road location would be perfect for business people who could then take a taxi or bus into town.

Currently, and this is no reflection on the residents, Abingdon Road, like Botley Road could do with sprucing up (like say Summertown) and a hotel could kick things off.

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mandate says...
10:44pm Sun 1 Jul 12

A PLAN to build a new Travelodge hotel in Oxford's Abingdon Road should be refused, a council planning officer’s report has recommended.

I honestly despair of the council in Oxford. What on earth is the planning officer thinking. If you search for hotels in Oxford in the lower price category, the choice is appalling. The shabby guest houses that scatter the Abingdon Road are a very poor alternative to a newly built hotel.

A new Travelodge (and many more cheaper tourist/business hotels) is exactly what is required in Oxford, to accomodate the hundreds of thousands of visitors and business people who come to our famous city each year.

Wake up the people who are against the building of this hotel.

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Phian says...
12:17am Mon 2 Jul 12

I would have liked the article to list the reasons for this recommendation.
On the surface it looks like a good idea but perhaps the Planning Officer knows something we don't.

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Cathena says...
9:03am Mon 2 Jul 12

"perhaps the Planning Officer knows something we don't."

Perhaps Travel Lodge have not promised to build 100s of flats for our darling students!

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Gunslinger says...
9:35am Mon 2 Jul 12

Phian wrote:
I would have liked the article to list the reasons for this recommendation.
On the surface it looks like a good idea but perhaps the Planning Officer knows something we don't.

You can find these on the Oxford City web site.

http://mycouncil.oxf
ord.gov.uk/documents
/s10418/Former%20Mot
or%20World%20Abingdo
n%20Road%20-%2012-00
249-FUL%20-%20Report
.pdf

Basically it is too large for such a visually attractive site on the fringe of the city, and lacks sufficient car parking!

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Dilligaf2010 says...
10:44am Mon 2 Jul 12

Gunslinger wrote:

Phian wrote:
I would have liked the article to list the reasons for this recommendation.
On the surface it looks like a good idea but perhaps the Planning Officer knows something we don't.
You can find these on the Oxford City web site.

http://mycouncil.oxf

ord.gov.uk/documents

/s10418/Former%20Mot

or%20World%20Abingdo

n%20Road%20-%2012-00

249-FUL%20-%20Report

.pdf

Basically it is too large for such a visually attractive site on the fringe of the city, and lacks sufficient car parking!

I've just read the report, strange really considering there are numerous blocks of flats on the other side of the road of similar height, although from what I've heard, they're riddled with damp and sinking gradually.
I think the main reason for refusal wasn't given, all the individuals involved in the report are Lenny Henry fans, and as such, would prefer a Premier Inn ;-)

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West Oxon Webwatcher says...
2:22pm Mon 2 Jul 12

Whilst I think it is clear that there is a need and a market for this modern budget hotel provision in and around Oxford, if you read the city council officers' report it is very clear nthat there is inadequate car parking provided and if approved there would be future parking problems. If this proposal were to be located in the city centre, say somewhere in the West End redevelopment area not far from the rail and bus stations, the car parking provision could be considered adequate but not here at the edge of the city that would not be very convenient for people arriving by train or coach. I sometimes use Travelodge Hotels for there very often excellent value but have dismissed them when in other cities they are a long walk from the tourist atrtractions as is the case here even though there are very good, frequent and better bus services into the city centre. Visitors from away would not want such services.

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Dilligaf2010 says...
3:15pm Mon 2 Jul 12

West Oxon Webwatcher wrote:
Whilst I think it is clear that there is a need and a market for this modern budget hotel provision in and around Oxford, if you read the city council officers' report it is very clear nthat there is inadequate car parking provided and if approved there would be future parking problems. If this proposal were to be located in the city centre, say somewhere in the West End redevelopment area not far from the rail and bus stations, the car parking provision could be considered adequate but not here at the edge of the city that would not be very convenient for people arriving by train or coach. I sometimes use Travelodge Hotels for there very often excellent value but have dismissed them when in other cities they are a long walk from the tourist atrtractions as is the case here even though there are very good, frequent and better bus services into the city centre. Visitors from away would not want such services.

There is mention in the report that 50% customer parking is considered sufficient, being as though the park and ride is in such close proximity.
A lot of Travel Lodges rely on motorists in transit, which is why they're invariably situated alongside major routes, in this case the A34.
If people arriving by any other means of transport, getting there by taxi, would still make their stay about £60 cheaper than the Four Pillars, Malmaison, Eastgate, or Royal Oxford, £140 cheaper than the Randolph, £200 cheaper than the Old Bank so there's certainly a case for this Hotel.

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Alfie Nokes says...
11:17am Tue 3 Jul 12

Oxford Peartree Hotel rate is £79.95, Oxford Spires has cheaper deals. The blocks on the old hospital site aren't a box three times as high, right on a gateway roadside. And personally, Dilli, I'd rather pay way less than either to a family run B&B which are anything but "shabby" (mandate).

Please don't ever seek position on the board, Oflife, the Abingdon Road only needs the Fox and Hounds and neighbouring site "sprucing up" it most definitely does not need Summertown-ifying.

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themeca says...
12:58pm Tue 3 Jul 12

as an oxford expat I dispair when I read news like this, I worked on the westgate centre when it was built and the JR, considering that was the 1970s council thinking has retreated to the dark ages. i visit oxford every two years, the choice of hotels in the centre of town leaves a lot to be desired, a travel lodge would enhance the area which you must agree is rundown, why not consider using car stackers or car cassettes that would increase the car capacity almost double. Council doesnt need to give a blanket rejection, give a permit with extra conditions eg more car parks, maybe a shuttle bus to the station or oxford airport, its time for planner to actually plan - its called renewal rather than reaction. Look at Docklands in London, Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore all fine examples of renewal. Its time the people of Oxford got a better deal from town planners. But lets face it - nothing will change - your stuck in the past - until people who believe in the future get onto council and employee planners who have a vision for the future - tradition is great - in this case think of the jobs that will be created in the hotel, then the suppliers, one small hotel reaps benifits for a much larger group than just the hotel, I love Oxford but if I am honest I find it depressing, it has so much to offer just needs some TLC and a lot of vision

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mechcol says...
1:10pm Tue 3 Jul 12

lacks sufficient car parking ? Park and Ride next door ,park there use the hotel and get them to reimburse you.Stayed in a Hotel in Liverpool who done this and seem to work perfectly well.

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Johnh says...
3:10pm Tue 3 Jul 12

Justt wait a month or two. The university will have an application for student accommodation rubber stamped by the council.

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davyboy says...
9:55pm Wed 4 Jul 12

what on earth do they mean, insufficient car parking?? there is an 800 space P&R site right behind the plot designated!!!!!! if height is the problem, then limit it to 3 storeys high! ideal place, as there are no real budget options at that end of the city. come on planning department, get your collective fingers out of your backsides, and do what is right for the city, not your own ego's!!!!!!!!

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mattyproper77 says...
6:32pm Sun 8 Jul 12

themeca wrote:
as an oxford expat I dispair when I read news like this, I worked on the westgate centre when it was built and the JR, considering that was the 1970s council thinking has retreated to the dark ages. i visit oxford every two years, the choice of hotels in the centre of town leaves a lot to be desired, a travel lodge would enhance the area which you must agree is rundown, why not consider using car stackers or car cassettes that would increase the car capacity almost double. Council doesnt need to give a blanket rejection, give a permit with extra conditions eg more car parks, maybe a shuttle bus to the station or oxford airport, its time for planner to actually plan - its called renewal rather than reaction. Look at Docklands in London, Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore all fine examples of renewal. Its time the people of Oxford got a better deal from town planners. But lets face it - nothing will change - your stuck in the past - until people who believe in the future get onto council and employee planners who have a vision for the future - tradition is great - in this case think of the jobs that will be created in the hotel, then the suppliers, one small hotel reaps benifits for a much larger group than just the hotel, I love Oxford but if I am honest I find it depressing, it has so much to offer just needs some TLC and a lot of vision

I worked for some years as an architect/urban planner in Sydney in private practice and at NSW state govt. level, and I really cannot fathom what Oxford could learn from Sydney. Maybe you could expand on your comment?

I also don't find Oxford depressing - I was on Cowley Road (grew up round there 80s/90s) last night for first time in year or so, and it was buzzing.

I do agree that long-term strategy would be great, Oxford is unique city with absolutely shed-loads to build on to enhance quality of life, resource-efficiency, etc. However, I feel development models work against such strategising. Maybe the 'New Reality' will change that.

[quote][p][bold]themeca[/bold] wrote: as an oxford expat I dispair when I read news like this, I worked on the westgate centre when it was built and the JR, considering that was the 1970s council thinking has retreated to the dark ages. i visit oxford every two years, the choice of hotels in the centre of town leaves a lot to be desired, a travel lodge would enhance the area which you must agree is rundown, why not consider using car stackers or car cassettes that would increase the car capacity almost double. Council doesnt need to give a blanket rejection, give a permit with extra conditions eg more car parks, maybe a shuttle bus to the station or oxford airport, its time for planner to actually plan - its called renewal rather than reaction. Look at Docklands in London, Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore all fine examples of renewal. Its time the people of Oxford got a better deal from town planners. But lets face it - nothing will change - your stuck in the past - until people who believe in the future get onto council and employee planners who have a vision for the future - tradition is great - in this case think of the jobs that will be created in the hotel, then the suppliers, one small hotel reaps benifits for a much larger group than just the hotel, I love Oxford but if I am honest I find it depressing, it has so much to offer just needs some TLC and a lot of vision[/p][/quote]I worked for some years as an architect/urban planner in Sydney in private practice and at NSW state govt. level, and I really cannot fathom what Oxford could learn from Sydney. Maybe you could expand on your comment? I also don't find Oxford depressing - I was on Cowley Road (grew up round there 80s/90s) last night for first time in year or so, and it was buzzing. I do agree that long-term strategy would be great, Oxford is unique city with absolutely shed-loads to build on to enhance quality of life, resource-efficiency, etc. However, I feel development models work against such strategising. Maybe the 'New Reality' will change that. mattyproper77

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Hotel plan recommended for refusal (From The Oxford Times)

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