Longford Park road plan meets stiff opposition from Banbury councillor

A Banbury and Cherwell district councillor has slammed a plan to build 850 more houses on Longford Park with site access through residential roads.
Cllr Kieron Mallon outside the Longford Park developmentCllr Kieron Mallon outside the Longford Park development
Cllr Kieron Mallon outside the Longford Park development

Cllr Kieron Mallon has called on developers to respect residents who until recently were their customers. He wants Hallam Land Management Ltd to build access from Oxford Road and not the existing Longford Park streets.

He says the expanded plan with 250 extra homes also puts into doubt the relocation of Banbury United Football Club to the Oxford Road location agreed in the Local Plan.

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Mr Mallon, the Calthorpe and Easington ward councillor for Cherwell, has officially objected to the outline planning application for the new phase of Longford Park because of the developer's plans to access the building site through occupied residential roads such as Longford Park Road. Hobby Road. and Songthrush Road.

Cllr Kieron Mallon who represents Calthorpe and Easington ward on Cherwell District CouncilCllr Kieron Mallon who represents Calthorpe and Easington ward on Cherwell District Council
Cllr Kieron Mallon who represents Calthorpe and Easington ward on Cherwell District Council

In his objection Cllr Mallon said: "A development of this size and length of construction should have its own dedicated junction on the main Oxford Road. The proposal to route construction traffic through existing occupied residential roads is unacceptable and raises major personal safety concerns."

Mr Mallon raised objections to the planning application last time the developer put their plans forward to use estate roads for construction traffic.

He said: "Nothing material has changed for the better in this new application and it should be rejected by Cherwell’s planners as it was last time."

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“I am really surprised the developer wishes to access the new site through occupied residential roads. It shows a total disrespect for their existing and future customers."

Cllr Mallon also called on the developer and councils to improve access to Banbury by ‘green’ canal towpath links.

He said: "The towpath on the canal should provide green walking routes to Banbury town centre and the path to Grants Lock should be a new public right of way.

"I am concerned that the increase in housing numbers from the original proposal in the local plan for 600 homes to over 800 in the developer's application could compromise the proposed relocation of Banbury United FC from its current site - which is not owned by the club - to a dedicated new stadium as proposed in the original local plan."

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Debbie Jones, senior planner for developer's agent, Framptons, said: "We will be responding to Councillor Mallon’s and the other neighbourhood comments made. Our response will be available on the council’s website."

The outline planning application is for a residential development of up to 850 dwellings; with playing fields with changing rooms and allotments and informal open space with landscaping. Associated infrastructure would include a balancing pond. The site is 'on land off the A4260 with access off the existing Longford Park access off the A4260 (Oxford Road) and a new access off the A4260 (Banbury Road)'.

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