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A LOCAL businessman and councillor is behind plans for a significant new employment site in west Witney.

Colin Dingwall, of DKR Developments, based at Crawley, wants to develop land off Downs Road for 60,000 sq ft of business buildings.

And he says he has a package to convince West Oxfordshire District Council that the scheme should go ahead - despite it not being zoned under current planning policies for employment use.

Mr Dingwall is a Conservative member of the council, representing Freeland and Hanborough, but under declaration of personal interests can take no part in the determination of the scheme.

He says he has lined up a range of local firms, which, because they want to expand or think their present premises are unsuitable, would move into the new site.

One of them is West Oxfordshire Motor Auction, which has been operating for decades on the nearby Bromag estate. They are looking at expanding part of their operations as a preferred solution to relocating the business entirely.

Another is APR (Witney), which cannot expand on its site at Corndell Gardens. A local IT company and a firm based in West End are also requiring new premises, says Mr Dingwall. The new site, he adds, 'could be considered as a back-up opportunity site reserved to meet the needs of existing firms in Witney, which need to relocate, but remain in the area because of their dependence on the local workforce."

The council is in the process of redefining its employment policies to sustain existing firms and attract new ones into the area.

One site which had been considered for employment use was at Coral Springs, but that is now likely to be used for a new care home complex.

The Downs Road area has for some years been the major site for new industrial development around Witney, following the completion of the Station Lane estate.

But there are worries that the road network cannot take much more traffic until a planned new junction on the A40 Witney bypass is built.

Phil Shaw, council senior planning officer, said: "Witney is highlighted as the most obvious location for a major share of future employment, and the Downs Road area is one which has proved attractive to the market.

"Until the A40 junction is completed, however, this development would be adding traffic to an already busy route."

2:56pm Tuesday 18th September 2007

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