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March 12th: CPRE responds to Oxford City Council's letter to the Inspector of the Examination in Public of the Core Strategy.

Following the Procedural Meeting on 9 February 2010, the City Council, on 3 March, made public its response to questions raised by the Inspector at the meeting regarding the Core Strategy.

CPRE and other stakeholders were given the opportunity to respond to the City Council's letter to the Inspector by 12 March.

CPRE remains extremely concerned at the apparent pressures from Government and the City Council to expedite the EIP process, when in the circumstances there are strong arguments for a radical re- think of the Core Strategy by the City, rather than attempt to progress a very flawed document - especially as the current Local Plan runs to 2016.

• For more information see our 'Green Belt' page here.

March 11th: White Paper on High Speed 2 reveals new rail line is to pass through northeastern tip of Ploughley and Bicester District in Oxfordshire.

Plans for a new high-speed rail network, featuring 250mph trains, have been announced by Transport Secretary Lord Adonis.

The White Paper, recommending a route for a new line between London and Birmingham with a future extension to northern England and Scotland, reveals that the route will pass through the northeastern tip of Ploughley and Bicester District in Oxfordshire. CPRE understands that about 4 miles of the new line will pass through the parishes of Finmere, Mixbury, and Newton Purcell with Shelswell.

CPRE Oxfordshire will be studying carefully the proposed route to gauge its impact on the county and will be responding to the consultation.

• For more information, CPRE Oxon's Press Release, and to see a map of the route see our 'Transport' page here.

March 9th: Public Inquiry begins into Fewcott wind farm.

The public inquiry into the Fewcott wind farm proposal by Bolsterstone plc began on 9 March.

In April 2009, planning permission was refused when Cherwell District Council planning committee voted unanimously against their own officer's recommendations that the proposed £10m four-turbine facility on farmland between Fewcott and Fritwell be given approval.

Local residents, along with CPRE Oxfordshire, opposed the wind farm, claiming it was an inappropriate site.
However, in November, it was announced that Bolsterstone was to appeal the decision.

CPRE Oxfordshire will be represented at the public inquiry and will be objecting to the proposed wind farm on the grounds that it will adversely affect the local landscape and environment.

• For more information see our 'Wind Energy' page here.

March 5th: Public consultation begins on Cherwell Core Strategy.

The Council is preparing a Core Strategy Development Plan Document that will form part of the Council’s Local Development Framework.

Once adopted, the Core Strategy will set the broad planning framework for meeting the future needs of Cherwell. It will set out how the district will grow and how this will be delivered, and where this growth will take place, including identifying strategic sites for housing and employment.

• For more information see our 'Cherwell Core Strategy' page here.

March 4th: March 2010: Public consultation begins on West Oxfordshire Core Strategy.

West Oxfordshire District Council is preparing a new plan for the District to 2026 that will identify where new homes, jobs, shops and infrastructure will be located.

The Council has set out the preferred approach to help meet the challenges expected to be faced by the area over the years ahead. The preferred strategy focuses larger scale new development on towns and villages with services and facilities – particularly Witney, Carterton and Chipping Norton.

• For more information see our 'West Oxfordshire Core Strategy' page here.

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