DIRECTORS at Chipping Norton
Veterinary Hospital are hoping their fresh plans for new premises will be a hit
with council chiefs. Planners at West Oxfordshire District Council voted
against the original plans to build a new hospital on land at Banbury Road as
they disliked the design of the building, saying it was not in keeping with the
town. But staff at the surgery were encouraged by the planning committee’s
comments which favoured the proposed location and drafted new plans which they
feel are a better fit with the surroundings. The design statement says: “The
new hospital has been designed to sit within the existing landscape and make
use of the sloping nature of the site” and is “sympathetic to the local
vernacular of traditional cottages, barns and farmhouses”. The site will also
include 20 car parking spaces and two external buildings for animal diagnostics
and treatment, along with a cattery. Janine Whitehead, director’s assistant at
the surgery, said: “The planners have been very supportive all along about the
project. We worked with them to develop this plan which really is much more in
keeping with the environment and is a much better looking building. “We are in
desperate need of the new premises. We really are very short of space in every
way.” The current surgery on Albion Street was built in the 1970s for two vets
and now has six vets in residence. It cares for all kinds of animals including
farm animals from the Cotswold Wildlife Park.
To view the plans, visit
westoxon.gov.uk/ and follow the links for planning.
Ed: Another business heading out of town after the hospital, to be
followed by both surgeries, already Horse Fair is a ghost town much the same as
West End, where will it all end??
