Westgate development
From:
Danny Chivers
Date:
May 01 15:46 UTC
Short link
In response to today's Oxford Mail front page, this might be of interest!
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Press Release – 01/05/2008
New Westgate “Could Flood West Oxford”
Local campaigners say “it’s not over yet”
The proposed Westgate expansion could lead to increased flooding in the most
vulnerable parts of the city and has not been properly inspected, local
campaigners stated today. The controversial plan – which would triple the size
of the Westgate shopping centre - passed a legal hurdle this week with the
compulsory purchase of a street of sheltered homes at Abbey Place. However,
local residents opposed to the scheme are calling for the plans to be put on
hold until a full Environment Agency flooding assessment has been carried out.
Oxford resident Danny Chivers said “The current Westgate plan includes the
concreting of green space, the removal of mature trees and the creation of a
huge underground car park on the flood plain – very close to the homes and
streets that flooded in 2007. Yet a full assessment of the flooding impacts has
not been carried out. This is completely outrageous.
“We are calling on Oxford City Council to request a full flooding assessment
from the Environment Agency, to cover not just the site but the surrounding
areas, in line with the new Government flood risk directive* that came into
force since the original Westgate plans were approved.
“How on earth can this scheme go ahead without checking whether it will put
people’s homes underwater?”
Campaigners are also concerned about the traffic and climate change impacts of
the current plans, and the effect on small independent shops across Oxford.
Instead, residents are calling for a different kind of city centre development.
Dr Alison Chisholm, another local resident said: “We do think that Oxford City
Centre needs improving, but why can’t we have an eco-friendly development with
a proper bus station, hundreds of affordable homes, and space for local traders
rather than yet another bog-standard traffic-generating shopping centre? This
should be an opportunity to make our city better, not worse. That’s why more
and more people are joining this campaign.”
A full “What’s Wrong With The Westgate Expansion” document is available at
www.westgatewatch.wordpress.com, along with details of how to get involved in
the campaign.
* Planning Policy Statement 25 – see
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/pps25floodrisk
.