This was despite KSCR getting an expert witness to state that the drainage of the site had not been properly examined by the developer and there was unknown flooding risk to surrounding and downstream properties as a consequence of the development.  Indeed our expert, a Senior Lecturer at University College London specialising in flood hazard, stated that  “the developer’s assessment does not identify the wider catchment area of the Ginge Brook (which receives water from the site) and the potential impact on downstream properties. This view is required for a development of this nature”.

The planning committee chose to ignore this advice.  Indeed our own County Councillor Richard Webber was “on the horns of a dilemma” and could not draw himself to vote against the application. The application was passed 8 votes in favour with 6 abstentions.

With the remainder of the Amey development, Pye, Redrow and Hobbyhorse Lane we now can’t stop an extra 500 cars being on the roads of the village within a couple of years and at least an extra 30 pupils wanting to attend the primary school.  There are other significant new developments likely to be applied for around the village as well. The government’s planning guidance is heavily biased in favour of developers at the moment and greenfield sites yield larger profits than brownfield.

On other matters, the mega-warehouse scheme next to the village is now under consideration by the Vale and the Redrow development for 65 houses north of Milton Road, which was given outline planning permission in the spring, has now come back for full planning permission.  Although the Redrow development can’t be stopped, you can comment on the more detailed plans on the Vale website, references P13/V2321/RM, P13/V2324/DIS. Lastly, the FCC application for its Waste Transfer Facility is likely to be considered at the OCC Planning Committee on Monday 2 Dec at 2pm.

The only slight ray of hope was a concession the Vale planning committee made at the October meeting in which the combined effect on the village of all this development carnage will be considered at some stage in the future.  Unfortunately great damage to the rural nature of the village has already been and continues to be done.

If you can help KSCR in any way please get in touch. Any legal expertise would be very welcome.  Lastly, thanks to the continued support that is being given to KSCR. It is greatly appreciated.

Council Chambers
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE

This application is in addition to the full application which was refused and subsequently appealed.
We sincerely hope that you will join us in making our objections to this planning applications clear to the planning committee . KSCR will make a formal objection during the planning committee meeting.

We will be meeting “underneath the arches” by the Guild Hall in Abingdon from 18:00 this Wednesday 30th October to meet councilors as they arrive for the the Planning Committee meeting that will consider approving the application.

We really need and look forward to your support, this may be our last chance to stop it.

Thank you in advance.
Kind Regards

KSCR

Thank you very much for the support which led to Pye Homes being refused planning permission to build 34 houses north of Milton Road.  As we expected, Pye homes have registered an appeal to this decision.

They have also lodged an application for outline planning consent at the same site, in parallel to their appeal.  The previous application was for full consent. They clearly think this two pronged approach will wear us down and enhance their chances of success.  Pye are leaving no stone unturned to achieve their objective of expanding the village, and the government is not putting any barrier in the way to stop this and other aggressive developments – instead it is encouraging it.  The floodgates will open if this is approved, Sutton Courtenay will no longer be rural.

There are two things we would request you do to help us to stop this and other unnecessary developments.

1.  Write an email/letter as soon as possible (i.e. today) to the adjudicator of the appeal to encourage a Public Enquiry to be set up to decide on this matter.  If we don’t go to public enquiry, the matter will be decided behind closed doors and the residents of Sutton Courtenay will not have any opportunity to have a say in the decision.  The matter is too complicated and far too important to the village to be decided without us having a clear voice.  The address of the adjudicator is given below and the appeal reference is: APP/V3120/A/13/2201473. Deadline 12th August.

The Planning Inspectorate, Room 3/10 Kite Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN

 Or online at the planning portal website www.planningportal.gov.uk/planning/appeals

 Please email your request for Public Enquiry to: enquiries@pins.gsi.gov.uk

2.   Register your objection to the new Pye application P13/1543/O through our website www.kscr.org.uk.  This is a fresh application so your objection must be written again, the reasons for refusal have not changed since the last time, some examples are given on the KSCR website. Deadline for objections is the 21st August.

P.S.  Please take action ASAP; we really count on your support in our struggle to Keep Sutton Courtenay Rural.

 Thank you very much for taking the time to support us.

The KSCR Committee
Email: keepsuttoncourtenayrural@yahoo.co.uk

You can read about the appeal here ,you can object again, but the inspector responsible for the appeal will already have a copy of your original objection so…

Please register your request for a public inquiry with the VOWH planning department, the evidence for and against this application are complex and contradictory so require a full and open debate before a decision is reached.

In another surreal twist, Pye Homes has filed another application for the exact same site!… Ensure you register your objection to this new application here…

Please take action, we count on your support in the fight to keep Sutton Courtenay Rural.

KSCR

Those of us who witnessed yesterdays meeting were questioning whether this was the same planning committee we had seen on previous occasions…. notably the lack lustre debate around the Redrow application to build 70+ homes in the same area.

There was intelligent, informed debate amongst the committee members, salient points were fully explored and examined in depth, errors uncovered and in the end common sense prevailed.

As is by now customary, and with the exception of the representative from Pye Homes, ALL speakers who were allowed to speak prior to the debate spoke against the application. These included Cllr Mike Jenkins from our Parish Council, Cllr Gervase Duffield our District Councillor, Dr Nicholas Richardson of KSCR and Mr Kevin Nicholls who gave an impassioned and heart rending personal plea.

We also note that the Planning Committee chairman for the first time had to “lay down the law” prior to the meeting i.e. no applause, no recording, no comments etc etc. Also the fact that there was a highly visible police presence during the meeting showed that the Planning Committee was aware of the high degree of public resentment generated by these destructive planning applications.
All positive signs that active participation and witnessing of these procedures by the public concentrates the minds of those that represent us.

Thank you for all your support

KSCR

There is no appeal if this is approved by the planning committee!
Should this opportunistic and inappropriate application go ahead, then an even bigger step has been taken to destroy our lovely village and make it a suburb of Didcot.

The VOWH planning committee will consider approving the planning application at a meeting this Wednesday, June 19th, at 18.30 at:
Council Chambers
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE

We sincerely hope that you will join us in making our objections to this planning applications clear to the planning committee . KSCR will make a formal objection during the planning committee meeting.

We will be meeting “underneath the arches” by the Guild Hall in Abingdon from 18:00 this Wednesday 19th June to meet councilors as they arrive for the the Planning Committee meeting that will consider approving the application.

We really need and look forward to your support, this may be our last chance to stop it.

Thank you in advance.
Kind Regards

KSCR

A large number of objectors attended the meeting to make their objections clear.

After listening to the planning Officers reasons for recommending the planning application to the Committee, most of the audience were left wondering if he was looking at the same application they were…
No, there was no drainage problems, unspecified traffic calming measures would be put in place, and the development would be put in a small out of the way site, which would not inconvenience anyone!

When it became time for the public response, a lot of powerful arguments were put forward, special mention should go to the presentation of David Hignell and Gervase Duffield, local Councillors, together with Pauline Wilson, representing KSCR.
To the Planning Committees credit they allowed a special, very emotional, appeal by Kevin Nicholls, widower of Heike, which left most of the listeners deeply touched by the human impact of these destructive planning applications.
A Special mention should also go to Planning Committee members Turner and Jones who had actually taken the time to visit the proposed site. One returned with her shoes soaking wet, (so much for no drainage problems!) the other describing Milton Road as a “tasty road” – plain speaking at last.

The decision was deferred for the following main reasons:
- Giving KSCR time to finalise their traffic survey
- Providing more detail about the traffic calming measures
- Providing more detail about the drainage including surface water
- To review the mix of affordable housing and other properties on the site
- To ensure adequate school facilities were available locally, with safe walking to school

Below are few photos from the meeting; Oxford Mail has written an article you can read here.

Christian Bergesen

Supporting the KSCR Committee

In their rush to accept this proposal they have completely ignored professional expert opinion and rational well structured objections from their own ratepayers and have seemingly accepted inaccurate data as fact.

We have serious misgivings about the accuracy of the data the planning officer has been provided with in order to reach his decision.  As you may know we have commissioned our own Automatic Traffic Count (ATC) at the end of Milton Road.  We are confident that the accurate results will prove that the traffic flow and speeds along this stretch of road show the original data provided by Pye to be flawed and wholly inaccurate. This new data will show that access to this site is highly dangerous and the scheme should be refused on road safety, sewage, flooding and many other grounds.

We were originally told that this planning committee meeting would be around the 23^rd of May. We therefore commissioned our 7 day ATC on this basis, especially now that Gasworks have finished and we can get accurate traffic flow data.  We were shocked to discover that on the day of our device being installed the meeting been cynically brought forward to the 8^th of May, giving us no time to complete our count! In spite of incomplete data and expert evidence that this scheme is unsustainable the planning officers David Rothery, Adrian Duffield and their boss Anna Robinson have recommended acceptance of the Pye proposal!

The Planning Committee will consider approving the application at a meeting to be held at 18.30 on Wednesday, May 8th at:
Council Chambers
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE

Naturally, KSCR will make their firm objections clear at the meeting, but, disappointingly, the Council has allocated a TOTAL SPEAKING TIME OF JUST 3 MINUTES for all objectors, not much time for 109 residents to voice their objections!

We sincerely hope that you will join us in a protest meeting outside the Council Chambers early next Wednesday evening to support our objection to this immensely damaging and unsustainable planning application.

KSCR