Once again WODC (Witney Only District Council) ignore the majority in favour of the minority. Previously as a town councillor I was disappointed like many my fellow councillors of the decisions of WODC regarding future or any planning for Chipping Norton, some we agreed on some we didn't but majority of the time we agreed at the lack of support for Chipping Norton from WODC. For example the Parker Knoll saga, as part of the Chippy First group we harangued and got pilloried for it, the partnership that was formed when it was known that £400,000. was available for business development after the sale of the Parker Knoll site, the money being held by Oxfordshire County Council. To ensure the money was spent how they wanted it and to prevent Chipping Norton or the Town Council getting their hands on the money The partnership was formed and consisted mostly of County and WODC District councillors along with their officers with a few local business people handpicked for the partnership which by-passed the Town Council and as we now know produced no jobs, the money has gone and no longer needed so now has the partnership.
Even WODC's own contribution to the future of the town, many
of you will have read "Creating Futures" the publication from WODC,
in it it clearly states there is very little prospects or support from WODC or goodwill from WODC of
future business development, certainly not in the near future, it goes on to
lay any future or blame on the "Neighbourhood Plan" however what it
does not say is even if Chippy came up with the prospect of a major development
or employer WODC would still have the right to veto it.
So where do we go from here? At the very least the whole of
the Town Council and District Councillors representing Chipping Norton should
stand together and demand to see our MP David Cameron and demand Chipping
Norton should have a say in its future rather than leaving it to unelected
officers in Witney, if
David Cameron can journey half way around the world to mediate between Afghanistan and
Pakistan I'm pretty sure he can manage a few miles to Chippy one Monday night.