Sir – Now that Doric Properties have submitted their planning application for Botley’s West Way shopping centre we can see that their concept of development is to plan for the past not the future.
Perhaps, like their name, their thinking is rooted in ancient Greece rather than the Botley of today. In their vision of the future, Doric:
Propose a large food store while all the major supermarkets are focused on smaller convenience stores together with ‘dark stores’ to meet rising demand for online grocery shopping.
Plan a six-screen cinema with 3D capabilities while the latest results show that overall cinema sales have dropped and 3D has failed to capture new audiences.
Intend to provide over 500 student flats while both universities are committed to reducing the number of students living in non-university accommodation to 3,000 and have embarked on their own extensive building programmes.
Recommend a gymnasium while numbers nationally have decreased and the leaders have been forced to close gyms.
Want to demolish the 65 flats at Field House and displace the elderly residents while the demand for accommodation of retired people is escalating.
If Doric proceed with their ‘plan for the past’ we shall end up with a blighted centre which is not only unloved but also destined to be a commercial catastrophe.
David Kane, Botley
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