THE draft “Supplementary Planning Document” for West Way has been published with the opportunity to comment on it until September 25.

The supposed idea is that it will guide development in the area for the long term future, but it’s also apparent that it has been written with the upcoming planning application by Mace/Doric in mind, and written by the Vale who have a contract with Mace to redevelop.

It’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

On the one hand it claims to be about future development over the whole of the Botley Local Centre.

But most of the document relates to the exact area that we know Mace/Doric want to redevelop, and goes into that in great detail with pretty drawings of a possible building layout, which would actually be much larger than they look.

It even shows a building that must be a six-screen cinema although they don’t say that’s what it is. It’s Doric Mk2.

The drawing is a red herring.

I think the Vale want people to comment on how they view the pretty pictures rather than on what the document means to planning lawyers. The devil is in the detailed wording. If a statement in the final document says something is OK then there will be no way of stopping a developer building it.

So eight storeys and unlimited student accommodation would be allowed. “If Elms Parade is redeveloped, building heights could extend up to five storeys” means Elms Parade is not safe and could be replaced by a monstrosity. The document should have been prepared independently and based on local peoples’ needs and wants. I can’t believe that is the case here. It has, in effect, been written for a property developer to suit their needs.

GORDON STOKES
Cumnor