Weston Front
: fighting Weston Otmoor eco-town
WESTON FRONT FIGHTING WESTON OTMOOR ECO-TOWN
Weston Otmoor is a proposed eco-town of 15,000 homes and 35,000 people between Oxford and Bicester at Junction 9 of the M40.
The Weston Front is an action group dedicated to ensuring that Weston Otmoor and eco-towns generally are built in sustainable locations where they are wanted by local people.
The government is proposing eco-towns outside long established regional and local plans and without adequate consultation. Both the consultation and planning are to be the subject of Judicial Review where their legality is tested in the High Court.
Weston Otmoor is located where any further traffic is unsustainable and with an underfinanced transport plan. The Weston Front have identified that punitive road tolls at the single road exit would force residents to use new trams and a restored train service on the Oxford, Bicester, Milton Keynes railway. It seems unlikely that people would want to live in such a place.
100% eco already, thanks!
- it will be built on 100% green field and 25% Oxford Green Belt land
- it will create more traffic at an already heavily congested location
- it will destroy a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a nature reserve
- it will adversely affect the nearby towns of Bicester and Kidlington
- it is being imposed against the wishes of all locally elected councils
- it is sited by the opportunistic assembly of land only
- it is in a location of high water stress and includes a flood plain
- the normal planning process is being bypassed
You can see all responses to the recently closed consultation by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG)
The Weston Front action group was formed early in October 2007 and is led by Anthony Henman, father of British tennis star Tim Henman. It receive unanimous support from the 500 residents of Weston on the Green and from surrounding parish councils. Both Cherwell District Council and Oxfordshire County Council are strongly opposed to the plans which go against their long established policy of creating new housing in the county towns, of which Bicester is one.
DCLG have conducted a consultation on the eco-town concept and the individual locations. Currently Parkridge Holdings UK, the proposer of Weston Otmoor, are conducting their own consultation. The Weston Front regards this consultation as a window dressing exercise.
Whilst Weston Otmoor remains on the shortlist, 3 of the original 15 have been withdrawn and two others are in serious doubt. The Weston Front expects that Weston Otmoor will not progress further once the ongoing sustainability study is complete. The Conservative Party have stated that no eco-town will be built without local support.
A decision on the final shortlist is expected early in 2009.
WESTON FRONT NEEDS YOU!
Can you help us?
Wasting everyone's time
There was one masterplan for the shortlist, another for the consultation and now a third for the sustainability appraisal. How is anyone supposed to comment?
While we wait for a decision based on secret criteria there is planning blight, heartache and expense. It's completely unacceptable. more...
Parkridge offer £200 million for airfield
An offer of £200 million has been made but a new airfield must be found for RAF parachute training. more...
Private Eye savage transport plans and minister
The Eye have examined the Weston Otmoor transport plans and criticised the Housing Minister for not viewing the site. more...
Misleading claims and a disastrous transport plan
A Weston Front perspective on Parkridge's misleading claims and disastrous transport plan. more...
Weston Front meet the Housing Minister
Representatives of the Weston Front met the Housing Minister, Caroline Flint MP at Bicester on July31. more...
Weston Front meeting on July 30
Updates were given on the planning process, Judicial Review, the ecology of the site and public relations. more...
Eco-towns Challenge Panel release latest report
The Eco-towns Challenge Panel, advising developers on their plans, have reported good progress in their second report. more...
Shelter leaflet on housing situation
The government has funded a study by Shelter, the homelessnes charity, of the housing situation in and around the Weston Otmoor site.. more...
CPRE Oxfordshire confront Parkridge
Parkridge's consultation purports to dispel "myths". In fact the issues are real and serious. more...
LGA lawyers says eco-towns "irrational and illogical"
The Local Government Association intends to apply for Judicial Review to contest the government's avoidance of its own planning processes.. more...
Cllr Tim Hallchurch MBE proposes eco-town motion
Tim Hallchurch has proposed the motion that Cherwell District Council objects to the Weston-Otmoor eco-town. webcast...
Ministers are told to drop most eco-towns
Senior civil servants have advised ministers that most of the proposed towns are not green enough. more...
End of consultation by DCLG
The government consultation on the eco-town concept and the individual locations ended on June 30th more...
CPRE slams eco-towns
The CPRE believe they have been led astray and that eco-towns will not address the lack of affordable housing and will be car dependent housing estates. more...
Challenge Panel members say only 1 or 2 should be built
Wayne Hemingway and Stephen Joseph have said that only one or two exemplar towns should be built or the eco-town brand will be devalued. more...
