Flats plan for green rejected (From Witney Gazette)

Flats plan for green rejected

9:00am Wednesday 22nd March 2006 in Witney

RESIDENTS have breathed a sigh of relief after plans to build flats that would 'ruin the view' of a pretty Witney green were refused.

Empire Homes had proposed to demolish Chichester House, on the corner of Wood Green and Woodstock Road, which faces on to a historic green, and is in a conservation area. They wanted to replace it with 14 apartments a block of eight flats and six cottages, to the outrage of people living nearby, who feared the new development would look out of character.

Planning officers had recommended the plans be approved, but after hearing there were 90 objections from residents, district councillors voted eight to two to turn down the plans at a meeting on March 20.

Councillor Serena Martin said: "The planned flats look like a row of garages. This density of housing is out of keeping with the area."

Jonathan Smith, of Woodstock Road, who had been leading a campaign against the plans, said: "It would have been very ugly, especially from Woodstock Road.

"The house next door are beautiful stately home type buildings the designs they had for the flats just weren't good enough for a conservation area."

"The worry is they'll come back with new plans, make a few changes, and have them approved."

Betty Treweeke, of Wood Green

Susan Sherratt, 56, of Wood Green, said: "It would spoil the look of the area. Who needs all those flats?"

Joan Cluwley and her husband, Allenok, are retired and live in Woodstock Road, directly behind the site.

She said: "It would be absolutely horrendous if it went ahead.

"Only 19 parking spaces for 14 flats. Most people have two cars, so there would be not enough spaces."

Wendy Blackhall, of Woodstock Road, said: "We think it's all a bit too much to knock down a perfectly good building, and build flats for so many people."

Betty Treweeke, of Wood Green, said: "The worry is they'll come back with new plans, make a few changes, and have them approved."

Witney Town Council had objected, saying they considered the proposed building 'to be an aberration of this part of Witney, and spoil the charm and character of this area'. The homes were to be constructed of natural stone, under artificial stone slate roofs.

Councillors agreed Chichester House, built in the late 1960s, was of no architectural value, and could be knocked down if a better scheme was approved.