COUNCILLOR Charlie Robertson, Conservative leader of Didcot Town Council, is quoted (July 29) saying that he “supported the plans for 400 homes” on part of Didcot A power station site.

Well, he may personally hold that view but it is not the opinion of the town council.

In fact, when Didcot Town Council’s planning committee considered this on July 8 they “recommended refusal of the application for the following reasons:

* Pedestrian facilities to cross into town are insufficient
* Concern exists about contamination and lack of clean-up
* There is a lack of allotment provision and a contribution towards allotments is requested
* Science Bridge is essential to bring site forward
Thames Valley Police’s ability to maintain policing levels with Didcot would be stretched as a result of this development and Didcot Town Council seeks a developer contribution towards measures to minimise this effect

These are significant planning reasons to refuse this outline application because, at present, the site is isolated from the town by distance, by major roads carrying HGVs as well as incomplete pedestrian and cycle paths.

Cllr MARGARET DAVIES (Labour)
Didcot South Ward (SODC)
Didcot Northbourne Ward (Town Council)