Supermarket deal could save Thame’s big day

Sainsbury’s has applied to turn the town’s cattle market into a 22,000 sqft supermarket, with a 200-space short-term car park as well as a new community centre attached to the store.

Sainsbury’s move could mean the cattle market may be able to open on the site of the Oxfordshire County and Thame Show at the showground off the A4129 Kingsey Road.

And Bob Williams, a director of both the Thame Cattle Market and the Thame Show, thinks they could help each other.

He said: “The move would mean the cattle market and the Thame Show could share costs and in my view that would save the show. Without the contributions from Sainsbury’s there would be no new cattle market.

“The current cattle market is not fit for purpose.

“Since it was built, the requirements for heath and safety and animal welfare have moved on.”

Last year’s Thame Show was called off after making losses of around £116,000 over the past four years.

The North Street site is owned by South Oxfordshire District Council.

If planning permission is granted Sainsbury’s would need the agreement of the district council, as the landowner, to go ahead with the development.

But there are fears from residents that the supermarket would “ruin” Thame.

Town Mayor David Bretherton said: “I am totally against it. This supermarket is not needed and it would ruin the town.

“We need a community facility. It is the last site within the town centre where we could provide fac-ilities for the community.”

Gill Read, of Wellington Street, said: “The site is completely unsuitable for the proposed supermarket.

“At present it is also used for long-term parking and if the town is to survive it is vital that parking is incr-eased and not diminished.”

Sainsbury’s said the shop will compliment the town centre and the supermarket will be without a coffee shop, post office or pharmacy.

It will also close its shop in the High Street and “ensure it is re-let to another retailer as soon as it becomes vacant”.