Richborough Estates, the developer behind a 160-home estate in the village has agreed to fund an extension at Bampton Primary School.
Witney Gazette September 20th 2014. The developer behind a 160-home estate in the village has agreed to fund an extension at Bampton Primary School. Richborough Estates, which was granted planning permission by West Oxfordshire District Council in March, will also invest in
bus stops, the village library and public art projects
as part of its developer contributions for the scheme. More than 330 residents signed a petition opposing the development, which will include a combination of one to five-bedroom houses, saying it was over-development and could lead to further flooding.
This envelope and cutting were lent to the Archive by Freda Bradley. Sundown Cottage was in the grounds of Prospect, the house immediately in front of you as you walk down the lane past the south side of the Grammar School. Mr & Mrs Rose bought it and they bought Prospect. The little cottage was later removed. We don't know why Freda brought the envelope with the cutting; sadly whoever she lent it to didn't record that
In the 1970s Fleur de Lys was a hair salon owned by Margaret Roberts. It is in Bushey Row. There were several owners after Margaret and it was later a video rental shop, a shop selling twee things for gardeners and a Physiotherapy Centre. Now it sells pottery (2021)
These little cottages have been extended over the years but seen here, Nos 1 and 2 Mill Green are in their original petite state. A snowy time after Christmas 1981
In 1983 the Lowlands Area Planning Sub committee gave permission for 70 more homes to be built between New Road and Coalpit Lane. The said no more than 20 per year on the 8 acre site but in the event, there were more than this annually.
This picture is of Bell Cottage which was visible briefly across the Market Square after Market Square Garage was completely removed and before Thornberry Flats were built on the site. The people living in the cottage at the time couldn't wait for the flats to go up to regain their privacy. The little lane, known by long-time locals as 'Back of The Bell' got its name from the Bell Inn which used to be where the Village Hall stands today. The Inn was bought by three ladies in 1923 for conversion into the WI Hall. In the 1980s the WI could no longer afford the upkeep of the building and it became the Village Hall ... next to the Town Hall.
Campaigners have condemned the xo-called 'no win no fee' policy of a developer behind plans for more than 700 homes on sites across Oxfordshire. 446 are planned for sites in West Oxfordshire. Sites are in Witney and Bampton.
Witney Gazette August 2014. WODC vows to fight the study showing that the area should build 13,000. The council in August 2014 was still updating its local plan and that has left the whole area open to speculators to build large estates in areas that are known by locals to flood and where local doctors' surgeries are already so full it can take 3 weeks to get an appointment. There is far more detail in the article.
Witney Gazette Aug 26th 2015. A Government inspector, Simon Emerson has been appointed to look at WODC plans for house building in next 20 years. More detail in the article.
