Thame housing plans a tragedy, says Bee Gee Robin (From Oxford Mail)

Thame housing plans a tragedy, says Bee Gee Robin

9:30am Friday 22nd October 2010 in News By Ben Wilkinson

Robin Gibb at Thame Town Hall yesterday

FORMER Bee Gee Robin Gibb took a break from the world of showbusiness to tackle a council over plans for new housing.

The star and his wife Dwina have joined a fight over where to locate 530 new homes in their home town of Thame.

The singer, who lives in Priest End, claims householders have not been properly consulted by the town council over where the houses should be built.

He criticised proposals to build the homes on the site of a pig farm on the north-western edge of the town. He said: “It is unsuitable for family homes because it is right next to the Thame bypass and half is on the flood plain.

“It’s about time people in Thame had a say in their own future. All the alternative sites for housing need to be looked at thoroughly.”

South Oxfordshire District Council’s preferred option is a site off Thame Park Road. The town council said it had not made a final decision, and was still seeking the views of local residents before making a recommendation to the district council.

Town clerk Helen Stewart said: “The preferred option for the town council is not having one site with all 530 homes on it. But councillors wanted to know what public opinion would be.”

The town council will make a formal response to the district council's poroposals on Tuesday. The district’s cabinet will discuss the matter on November 16.