RESIDENTS and campaigners met last night to discuss the controversial redevelopment of the West Way shopping centre.
A number of speakers attended the meeting at St Peter and St Paul Church in Botley.
They included Jane Baldwin of the Oxford Preservation Trust, Peter Lefort from Oxford Community Action and Caroline Potter of West Way Community Concern which organised the meeting.
Chris Church, of the West Way Community Concern group, said they wanted improvements, but not at the expense of older people forced to leave their homes or local independent traders losing out to Starbucks, Burger King, and Poundland.
“Our own survey shows that there are about 200 jobs in 28 businesses that are in danger. These are not ‘guesstimates’ by developers – these are real people working in real jobs that will be lost if this area is flattened,” he said.
More than 100 people have donated more than £2,500 to fight the plans for a £100m shopping centre redevelopment.
Doric Properties wants to build a cinema, restaurants, health centre supermarket, and 600 student flats by demolishing buildings like the historic Elms Parade and the Botley Library.
Plans are expected to be submitted to Vale of the White Horse District Council next month.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here