Allotments plan for Cogges estate (From The Oxford Times)
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Allotments plan for Cogges estate
12:00pm Wednesday 5th September 2012 in News
By Pete Hughes, Reporter. Call me on 01865 425431
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Keen gardener Richard Mackenzie on the site at Cogges
A NEW housing estate could be built at Cogges as part of a deal that would also see new allotments created.
A 3.5-acre strip of land behind Cogges Manor Farm has been suggested for new plots. Landowner James Mawle said he could turn the site into allotments to help alleviate the waiting list, which has 117 people on it. But he said it is only likely to happen if he gets the go-ahead to redevelop about 100 acres of land he owns at Cogges. Mr Mawle said: “We have a masterplan to develop all the land we own there, and that includes 450 dwellings, and an allotment on the site behind the museum.”
His suggestion has been backed by gardeners and allotment holders. Andy Howells, chairman of the Witney Allotment Association, said: “I think it is a good site for an allotment.
“It is close to fairly concentrated housing. Anything near to where people live is good. “Obviously you would need to run soil tests to make sure it is not contaminated, and check that it is not liable to flooding.”
Writer Richard Mackenzie applied for an allotment in Witney three years ago and was told at the time there was a two-year wait.
Now he is 28th on the waiting list. He said: “We have a two-year-old son.
“He is the right age to start gardening.
“I want to start growing things and be able to provide fresh fruit and vegetables for my family.
“There is a social justice aspect to it as well – there are 117 people who want to be part of the allotment community and culture.”
The thin strip of land suggested is next to housing, making water provision easier, and has access from both ends.
The land, owned by the Mawle Trust in East Witney, was earmarked for the Cogges Link Road , which Oxfordshire County Council wanted to build to ease traffic congestion in Witney town centre.
After a lengthy battle with the trust, the county’s compulsory purchase order for the land was rejected by the Department for Transport in June.
Chris Hargraves, planning policy manager for West Oxfordshire District Council , said the council needed extra information on the land’s suitability for housing before deciding whether it could be developed.
Witney Town Council is responsible for providing land for allotments in the town. Jeanette Baker, a member of the town council’s leisure and recreation committee, said: “The council is actively seeking new land for allotments and shows commitment to the existing provision by continuing to maintain and invest in improvements to existing sites managed by the allotment association.”
She declined to say if the town council would back the Mawle Trust’s plans. Witney Allotment Association manages 175 plots on three sites – Lakeside, Hailey Road and Newland – while Witney Town Council retains control of four allotment plots off Park Road.
Comments(22)
the wizard
says...
2:30pm Wed 5 Sep 12
Rich! wrote:That would be The Cogges Link Road then ? How about a cycle track down to Station lane then, across the fields ? Would also aid pedestrian access, now there is a thought. lol.
I can't see 450 new houses helping the traffic at Bridge Street much. What we really need is some kind additional road, a road which links Cogges to the rest of Witney. I don't know what we'd call it though?
richwitney
says...
2:35pm Wed 5 Sep 12
Time for Mr Mawle to cash in his chips on the CLR land.
A nice £2.5 million in the bank, thank you very much people of Witney!
More houses = more traffic = more gridlock = more polution
livedhereforyears
says...
3:20pm Wed 5 Sep 12
the wizard
says...
3:53pm Wed 5 Sep 12
livedhereforyears wrote:Bang on target, but the Tory boys will look after their own despite the cost to the community with gridlock and pollution. I expect the rest will be here later stating otherwise, but be assured, we know the problem and it isn't going to go away until the traffic problem is sorted, and shout as they may, Shores Green, is not the golden solution they propose that it is.
what a suprise - throw a few allotments in for free and then wants to build 450 houses after not wanting to improve the road system of this town. Madley park wasn't supposed to have been completed without the CLR and now they want more houses to make them richer - this is just greed not charity - I will be objecting to any planning for more houses on the basis of lack of supporting infrastructure.
richwitney
says...
4:16pm Wed 5 Sep 12
Totally impossible to get from one side of Witney to the other.
Welcome to the future!
richwitney
says...
4:48pm Wed 5 Sep 12
mike4753
says...
5:47pm Wed 5 Sep 12
someguyfromhereandthere
says...
5:55pm Wed 5 Sep 12
This is not community spirited, its greed, plain and simple.
I was neither for or against the Cogges link road, but always knew it was either that or houses.
The council has over 360,000 which they can only spend on allotments. Can't they go down the compulsory purchase route?
Richard MacKenzie
richwitney
says...
5:58pm Wed 5 Sep 12
mike4753 wrote:Ironic that the CPRE brigade's support for Mr Mawle will result in 450 new homes being built on green belt land, leading to even worse gridlock in Witney.
Now Mr Mawle is showing his true colours!!! How can so many people have been hoodwinked by him on the CLR.Its clear he was in it for his own gain.What do CPRE and other anti CLR supporters think now?
Would Mr Wilcock or Mr Condon care to comment on these plans for a new estate in East Witney?
nickwilcock
says...
9:24pm Wed 5 Sep 12
/ reveals that there are 2 different areas proposed for development.
The one to which the Witney Gazette article refers is ‘Cogges South’, which the EWLC describes as being ‘proposed for 100 houses plus 3 acres of allotments and 35 acres of water meadow and public open space’. A plan can be viewed at http://www.ewlc.info
/images/coggesmap_la
rge.jpg .
But their entire plan is indeed for 450 houses. 100 at ‘Cogges South’ and 350 at the far more contentious ‘Cogges Triangle’, which would add considerable urban sprawl to Cogges Hill. A plan can be viewed at http://www.ewlc.info
/images/triangle_lar
ge.jpg .
Whilst there might well be some merit in the ‘Cogges South’ proposal, the complete ‘master plan’ would undoubtedly face considerable opposition.
livedhereforyears
says...
9:17am Thu 6 Sep 12
richwitney
says...
4:48pm Thu 6 Sep 12
I suspect that the main Anti-CLR protagonists will be keeping very quiet about 'Cogges South', as it stinks of a deal struck between them and the Mawles over the CLR.
I'll await the public outcry from CPRE et al about both 'South' and 'Triangle' with interest...
the wizard
says...
5:35pm Thu 6 Sep 12
richwitney wrote:I see that today Double-Dip Dave and his henchmen have announced that they are relaxing building restrictions on Green Belt land, be assured that these plans will go through despite any objections.
mike4753 wrote:Ironic that the CPRE brigade's support for Mr Mawle will result in 450 new homes being built on green belt land, leading to even worse gridlock in Witney.
Now Mr Mawle is showing his true colours!!! How can so many people have been hoodwinked by him on the CLR.Its clear he was in it for his own gain.What do CPRE and other anti CLR supporters think now?
Would Mr Wilcock or Mr Condon care to comment on these plans for a new estate in East Witney?
nickwilcock
says...
5:59pm Thu 6 Sep 12
It does not. Perhaps you and your fellow troll should consider educating yourself first, then if you feel that strongly about it, why not start a campaign? Or would the pair of you rather just snipe anonymously about the Mawle Trust?
If you believe in something, then do something constructive.
We did!
richwitney
says...
6:38pm Thu 6 Sep 12
nickwilcock wrote:Part of Mr Mawle's housing development sits where the route of the CLR, it's as clear as day my friend.
"It sits in the same area as the CLR that you were up in arms against!"
It does not. Perhaps you and your fellow troll should consider educating yourself first, then if you feel that strongly about it, why not start a campaign? Or would the pair of you rather just snipe anonymously about the Mawle Trust?
If you believe in something, then do something constructive.
We did!
CPRE's silence on this speaks volumes.
David Condon
says...
7:36pm Thu 6 Sep 12
...
Speaking on a personal note, I would appreciate it if accusations of 'deals' between either myself, or CPRE, with third parties were backed up with facts. Please read the site terms below.
David Condon. Witney CPRE & WitneyFirst.
the wizard
says...
10:52pm Thu 6 Sep 12
In all of his dealings with respect to the CLR, and although we were at logger-heads with our own views, I would say again, he did nothing underhand, and would also add he argues cleanly.
This whole issue centred around the CLR has many peoples backs up, and rightly so as it is a very contentious issue, and now the housing which is also part of that self same argument will also cause feelings to run high, but I do expect DC to retain his candour and argue his corner according to protocol and the law. I don't see him as someone who would lower his standards into deals or otherwise, even if we don't agree.
jamesmawle
says...
11:02am Fri 7 Sep 12
to answer some points in the comments. Cycle link - please look at our web site www.ewlc.info for plans of a pedestrain and cycle access from Cogges to Witney which we call the Farm Mill crossing. I am not a member of the Conservative party either national or locally and it is foolish to suggest that having fought a very public battle with the council over CLR I have any friends in either WODC or OCC.
With regard to accusations of deception we have been open from the start about our housing proposals, please see our website. People in Witney are well aware of these proposals but I suggest understand that opposing the CLR is not the same thing as supporting our housing proposals.
With regard to house building we fully accept it is for the local community in West Oxfordshire to determine how many new houses should be built in the district but once that number has been set they should be built in the most sustainable locations. We believe east Witney with its excellent pedestrian, cycle and bus links is the most sustainable site. It is also the only site that can pay for and build the SGSR if OCC will not pay for it itself.
With regard to accusations of greed it would be far more advantageous for the trust to sell the allotment land to WTC now. If we do it through the local plan we will most likely have to pay to set out the allotments and then give them to WTC and also pay for and build the Farm Mill crossing. Both the allotments and farm Mill crossing are being volunteered by the trust rather than being asked for by WODC.
We are currently revising our proposals post CLR working on the assumption that we will have to both pay for and build SGSR. once they are ready we will be putting them out for public consultation including a public exhibition in Witney.
phathers
says...
1:47pm Fri 7 Sep 12
the wizard
says...
6:29pm Fri 7 Sep 12
Fred Chilvers
says...
9:17pm Sat 15 Sep 12
It was the same with the CLR debate on the Gazette website - he made all sorts of assertions that a little basic research would have revealed to be inaccurate. It seems to me that he is for some reason programmed to assume the worst of anyone who ever opposed the CLR. Keep it up, richwitney, your comments are entirely counter-productive!
Rich! says...
12:58pm Wed 5 Sep 12