The Drayton Road between Mill Road and the double mini roundabout will be resurfaced during the school holidays.
From this shot near the Ladygrove Meadow (and summer fair) it does appear that the surface is cracking up. This section of road has been flooded, and had to carry more traffic than most.
More is to come with the Morland Gardens development pending. The arguments of local people, ALL local Councillors and the local MP, Nicola Blackwood, who know the Drayton Road traffic problems, have had no effect, against this particular development.
Oxfordshire County Council need to look deeper than resurfacing to fix Drayton Road.
You are right about looking at the new loads the Morland Gardens development will impose on the Drayton Road. The problems will be more than a resurfacing will solve.
Someone must be accountable and responsible for pushing this development through despite all the opposition – the developer can’t do this alone.
Elsie, the developers can and do. They have fantastic financial, legal and political muscle. Global money is piling into the UK housing market because it’s a slam dunk returns-wise.
It is actually very difficult for local authorities to resist, and even if they do the developers regroup and resubmit to address any ‘issues’ raised. They have deeper pockets and better legal resources.
In recent years local authorities have used Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act (1990) to try to force developers to pay for increased amenities in return for housing developments, but a whole consulting industry has sprung up to allow developers to wriggle off the hook. They also forced through changes in 2013 to allow s106 commitments to be ‘renegotiated’ if a situation has deemed to have changed (which it invariably does). i.e. some mysterious additional ‘costs’ arose putting in sewage (for example) means there is now no money for affordable housing, or an extra doctor’s surgery.
In the end the political pressure for more housing is immense, our population continues to boom…so expect many more housing developments and increased strain on our local resources for many years to come 🙁
I know it’s comfortable to think corrupt local politicians are to blame, and that they can be removed democratically, but that’s really not how the modern world works!
Thanks for your comprehensive response Mark. I guess all the protest groups in the world won’t make any difference given these circumstances.
Eloquently summarised Mark.
I’d also add that local authorities also have to make a judgement on the risks of legal challenge or the likelihood of winning if they appeal decisions.
Whilst in theory it would be good for the LA to pursue each difficult case to its ultimate conclusion, each time they do so costs us as tax payers, so they have to balance this in their decision making.
Ooh a fair!
I agree that the position is as Mark states it; however, is the current position a good one for our communities? The necessary changes have to be made politically and – at the risk of upsetting some readers – the party at present forming HMG is unlikely to produce legislation which requires developers to provide good infrastructure to support their developments.
For as long as we estimate the success of society by giving the prime place to the criterion of money, we allow the comfortable to increase their comfort at the expense of those with few resources. Contrary to all the noise, wealth does not trickle down. A few wealthy philanthropists do not change societal structures.
Rant ends!
…so, why is the highest paid position at The Veil not for the resident planning expert? Why doesn’t the Veil ensure, of all its ex-perts, it pays top dollar for an excellent planning lawyer, to ensure our community is adequately protected.
I am fed up with hearing how inept our councils are that they don’t have anyone who knows the planning law/system. Sounds like an excuse, rather than a reason, to me.
Ok, so developments will happen…so working with these greedy guys is the way forwards, and making sure there is no wiggle room. Now, a 0.25% increase in my council tax I’d happily except, if it were to pay for such a position….or a surcharge on each development better still.
It doesn’t help of course when The Veil gives away our community assets of course….or undersells Prime development sites. But then…such a planning expert wouldnt have allowed such I’ll judgement in the first place.
A bit of a devils advocate here, in principal there’s nothing wrong with development, rules (not guide lines) are laid down for the good of all and planing officers have a duty to make sure they are adhered too, but it falls down when Ian (ex councillor) and co have taken it upon themselves to decide carte Blanche that the big boys, those with an endless pot. Are pretty much allowed to do as they please because council takes a view they can’t afford to police the rules, in short Joe Soap who puts a window 300 mil out of plan on his kitchen extension will suffer the consequences but the likes of Abingdons favourite builder can get away with blue murder !
As ppjs says the wealth/money’ doesn’t trickle down coz there’s one rule for them and another for the rest, Tilsey park is a classic example of how the family silver of Abingdon has once again been snatched from the masses of our town and given ( yes given) to the privileged ( most of whom are from overseas).
Bring on the revolution!
Steve – can you please furnish some evidence that I (i presume you mean me even rhough you continue to refer to me as Ian) that I have done anything to give carte blanche to any developer? You cant just fling around unsubstantiated accusations, and it would be impossible for me to do what you suggest given i have never stood or been elected to the dustrict council who are the planning authority.
Backstreeter – please check post 8 ref libel laws – steve king unfortunately is no stranger to slander
Ian, there’s nothing slanderous in what I’ve said, merely relaying my interpretation of what you’ve written in post 5 “each time they do so it costs us tax payers, so they have to balance this in their decision making” which Ian is exactly my point! Everyone on here remembers well 65 Oxford rd where Abingdons favourite builder drove a coach and horse through planning conditions but got away Scott free because the officers, not the councillors, took it upon themselves not to pursue a clear breach of planning conditions
Read your own post – ‘ian and co have decided to take it upon themselves to decide carte blanche that the big boys are allowed to do as they please’
1. I have never had any decision making authority on planning. I am not, nor never have been a district councillor. I was a town council which has no authority over the matters King refers to
2. I have never had any dealings with any developer
3. I have only engaged in one planning issue which affected my ward, which was to object to the drayton road development at its various stages.
Mr King – you may not like me but you cannot just lie about me – please desist
In fairness Abingdon’s Councillors put up a fight but the Government’s planning inspector pushed it through. There are thousands of new homes being built with supporting infrastructure so there was no need to push through a development which would increase Abingdon’s horrendous traffic problems. I have noticed a reluctance of some to fight on behalf of Abingdon residents. For instance I was criticized for daring to mention on the Blog the proposed closure of the household refuse dumps despite Abingdon residents being firmly against such closures. I call these people ‘The suppress truth and information Stasi’
Just seen the other day that lots of trees were cut down where the new Morland Gardens development will be. Is this to make space for the builders so that they can access the site with their machinery??? It seems that this all is almost unstoppable. I hope the trees weren’t old oaks!