Eco-town moves step closer (From thisisoxfordshire)

Eco-town moves step closer

10:17am Thursday 9th September 2010 in

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BICESTER’S future eco-town got one step closer this week, as the public received their chance to comment on the proposals.

A website has been launched by the company behind the plans, P3Eco, showcasing their ideas for the initial phase of the development. This includes the building of 400 to 450 new homes, a 75-bed care home, areas for shopping and a community centre. It also gives the chance for the public to gain some understanding about the options for the wider eco development.

Ian Inshaw, chairman of P3Eco, said: “This is a very exciting time for the project as it is the first time the plans have been on public display. It also follows our first round of public consultation held in June 2010 and many of the ideas and suggestions from this earlier round have been incorporated into these plans.”

Bicester was named in July 2009 as one of four areas chosen for development of what the government dubbed eco-towns. The other three areas chosen were St Austell in Cornwall, Rackheath in Norfolk and Whitehill Bordon, East Hampshire.

The funding for the project is from private investors, but the town as a whole is also being boosted by a government cash injection to the district council of £9.3m.

When finished, the new developement in north west Bicester is expected to include 5,000 homes.

Mr Inshaw said: “Public consultation is at the very heart of this project and I would urge people to get online at nwbicester.co.uk and fill in the consultation feedback form.

“We are extremely keen to share our proposals with the residents of Bicester and the surrounding villages, but more importantly, we want to hear their views and ideas and incorporate them were we can.”

Another consultation, by Cherwell District Council, has also been under way over the summer and will run until October.

Council leader, Barry Wood, said: “The Eco Bicester Delivery Board has just published its shared vision for the whole town and we are seeking views on that.

“Now, with the release of P3Eco’s ‘Testing Masterplan Ideas’ document, there is also the opportunity for members of the public to in put into the emerging plans for new development at North West Bicester. It is fantastic to see some positive progress after all the hard work everyone has put into this project.”

But the plans have not yet succeeded in answering many of the questions Bicester residents want answered.

Oxfordshire county councillor for Ploughley, Catherine Fulljames said the proposals might look nice, but she was unsure about the practicalities.

She said: “It looks like a dream, but I’m worried about the reality of it. I went to the launch of this consultation by P3Eco and I think it looks terribly self-contained and detached from the town.”

Mrs Fulljames said she was also concerned about transport infrastructure, schooling, shops and the jobs for the thousands who moved there.

She added: “Bicester currently has around 30,000 residents and these 5,000 new houses will bring that number to about equal with Banbury. I just hope the companies behind this think about whether Bicester can cope with such an influx.”

But Mr Inshaw said it was for precisely these reasons that it was important for people to have their say.

He said: “We aspire to achieve the very best with this public consultation, but with an innovative project such as this there are always challenges and concerns along the way and we are doing are very best to take these on board”.

To have your say on the proposals, visit www.nwbicester.co.uk There are also drop-in sessions around Bicester to put questions directly to the professionals.

The next sessions are today (Thurs) between 6pm and 8pm at The Garth in Launton Road and between 10am and 2pm on Saturday at the Methodist Church Hall in Sheep Street.