Greater Faringdon plan begins to take shape

Thursday, 28 June 2012

Al Cane

The Faringdon Neighbourhood Plan was launched at a well-attended public event an Faringdon’s Corn Exchange in mid June. Town Mayor Cllr Mike Wise opened the event and stressed the need for people’s ownership of the plan which sets out the vision for the town’s growth and development up to 2029.
Planning chairman Cllr Alan Hickmore set out the scheme and how it might operate, the plan will include housing, recreation, employment and services.
Developers Bloor Homes were also present at the meeting offering their initial plans for the land south of Park Road across from the Esso station. The plans contain a somewhat less dense development than their Folly Park View scheme, with the addition of a new primary school and business office development at the Rogers Concrete site.
The process should take several months to complete with help from the Vale in the for of a senior planning officer. The plan will be incorporated into the Vale’s core strategy, but any suggestions will have to be evidence based, proving their need and agreed by all parties. A final plan is likely to be put to a referendum of the voters of Faringdon .
A firm of consultants, Allies and Morrison Urban Practitioners, has been appointed to oversee the consultation and bring the plans to fruition. Steve Walker was at the meeting representing the consultants, where he was able to introduce himself and his company.
Those present, representing many different parts of the Faringdon community, but not all, then broke up into areas of interest from retail to education to environment to bring forward ideas.
These interest groups have already begun to meet separately with a view to reporting back to the steering group bu y the middle of July.
Look out for a market stall under the Old Town Hall in the morning of Tuesday 10 July where the consultants will be canvassing people’s opinions about what they would like to see in the plan.
The next large public meeting is scheduled for later in July, but a leaflet setting out how it all works is available from theTown Council or on the web at www.faringdonplan.webs.com

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