Shilton Parish Development (Aka North Carterton )

Marilyn Cox

Shilton

Mr Paul Slater 27th July 2011

Strategic Planning

WODC

Elmfield

New Yatt Road

Witney OX28 1PB

Dear Mr Slater,

DCS: Further Response

Shilton Parish Development (aka ‘North Carterton’)

Barton Wilmore/David Wilson Homes

I understood that the ‘North Carterton’ option had been all but ruled out by your department, understandably so given that it is situated at considerable distance from the town and in the buffer zone between Carterton and Shilton established in 1994 and confirmed in more recent Adopted Strategic Plans. We already have evidence of a breach of trust by WODC after the development of ‘Shilton’ Park was allowed at TWICE the density of build than the 800 homes you advised us had been approved. Are we now to understand you are considering another such breach in the matter of a proposal from David Wilson Homes (DWH) who have purchased land in Shilton Parish in full knowledge of your previous agreement that this land was not available for development?

Flooding

Shilton already suffers severely from run-off of water from the land to the east of the B4020 following heavy rainfall, since the village is situated at the lowest point in the area. ANY building in this land will inevitably exacerbate this, since water will run-off north and west, and will add to the flooding caused by water backed up towards the village. By allowing this building you will render many of our properties virtually uninsurable post 2013, when the agreement between the government and the insurance industry ends, regarding cover for properties at risk of flooding.

Traffic

Adding a further 300 homes to the total of 200 already granted to DWH, and further adding the 1600 at Shilton Park, will give a total of 2,100 residences, many with 2 or more vehicles, which will use this village as a rat-run for western journeys. As it is, this conservation village already suffers near-intolerable levels of through traffic. We pay high levels of local taxes to WODC for a certain quality of life since we receive very few services (such as public transport for example). Are these to be used to increase the misery that heavy traffic and light pollution will bring?

I would once again emphasise that the land involved in this proposed development is NOT Carterton, and is at some distance from Carterton. Any attempt by DWH to call it Carterton in pursuit of its ambitions must be stopped once and for all.

In conclusion I would like to reiterate my concern, bordering on incredulousness, that in and around Shilton, Brize Norton and Alvescot, WODC is considering with any degree of seriousness so tremendous a development burden on one small corner of West Oxfordshire. This is especially astonishing given that there are no adequate transport links to support the developments, and no possibility of creating these without destroying the rural environment which the developments alone threaten. I have received absolutely no response to my previous question: why are there no plans for Chipping Norton to share the burden of necessary development of the District (as opposed to the ludicrous figure of 4,300 homes, which even David Cameron disowns)? As you have heard time and again, there is overwhelming expert opinion that infill of Carterton and appropriate organic growth of the villages will more than meet the needs of this small, rural part of the county, and bring benefits to all, rather than just to Carterton, as the developers with whom you are in discussion propose.

Yours sincerely,

Marilyn Cox