‘People can’t stomach any more housing,’ inquiry hears (From Oxford Mail)

‘People can’t stomach any more housing,’ inquiry hears

9:40am Tuesday 18th September 2012 in News

THE development of areas like Headington and East Oxford will “add problems to a situation which is already pretty grave”, an inquiry heard yesterday.

The second week of a hearing into the city’s housing framework opened at Oxford Town Hall.

The plan earmarks 65 sites around the city which could be developed in the coming years, resulting in a total of nearly 8,000 new homes.

But Tony Joyce, speaking on behalf of the Highfield Residents’ Association, told the hearing plans would cause more traffic and housing problems in Headington.

He said: “This is a matter of real concern to the whole Headington community.

“From the residents’ point of view, the prospect of adding further problems to a situation which is already pretty grave is concerning.”

Headington residents said £750m building works in the past decade had increased the number of student homes and traffic on the roads and the latest plans would add to this pressure.

Mr Joyce added: “If you’ve been woken up three times in the night because you live next to a house of multiple occupation and you then have appalling traffic to contend with on the way to work, this is not conducive to a happy living environment.

“People are moving out of the area because they can no longer stomach it.”

Sietske Boeles, from the East Oxford Residents’ Association Forum, said the same would happen in East Oxford.

Oxford City Council principal planner Laura Goddard said they understood the plans would have an impact on the local community and had taken these issues into account.

Government inspector Shelagh Bussey will decide if the plan is sound.