FFRREE EE IN INSSIIDE
Make your next move
ABINGDON EDITION
Inside Proposed council tax this week: changes: views sought p3 Thursday, August 29 - Wednesday, September 4, 2013
www.oxfordpropertyw eekly.co.uk
Like Us On… www.facebook.com/OxfordshireGuardian
Established 1988 Issue No.
1,230
Thursday, August 29 - Wednesday, Septem ber 4, 2013
FREE Please take a copy
Advertising/Newsdesk: 01235 511700
www.oxfordshireguardian.co.uk
CONCERNS OVER HOUSING PLAN PLANS to develop an Abingdon building into eight apartments and six houses have been approved by Vale of White Horse District Council, ahead of a final decision due on Tuesday. It is expected an application to develop Berkeley House, on Marcham Road, will be granted. However, there were concerns over the proposed development looking onto houses on Winterborne Road behind the property, with 16 residents objecting. Cllr Sandy Lovatt was vicechair of the planning committee that approved the plans, but recognised concerns residents might have. He said: “I know the people in Winterborne Road are cross about the imposing nature of these developments on their backyards, and I can see their point. “But it’s an area which I think has been around for a long time and needs some refurbishment, and there’s a lot of wasted land
We Tweet... Do you? • Berkeley House and, inset, Sandy Lovatt who sits on the planning committee
Find us on Twitter @OxfordGuardian
By Adam Flinn
adam@taylornewspapers.co.uk
in there. Those houses are no longer used as big mansions anymore, it’s offices and flats, and if you walk along the road you can see it’s looking quite tatty.” In an online comment submitted to the council, James Harding of Winterborne Road wrote: “The sheer scale and immediate proximity of the new houses to neighbouring properties would mean they directly overlook many of the homes and gardens on Winterborne Road, resulting in a completely unacceptable and obtrusive infringement on local residents.’’ Abingdon Town Council objected to the proposals due to traffic concerns on the Marcham Road, exasperated by the recent appeal to allow 160 homes to be built on nearby Drayton Road. The Unicorn School, which currently occupy the property, is understood to have an agreement in place with Cranbourne meaning they won’t have to vacate the premises until they fi nd an alternative building. Cranbourne were unavailable for comment.