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| June 2002 |
| You will be pleased to learn that at the meeting of the Planning
and Highways Committee of the Faringdon Town Council, held last night - 5th
June 2002- approval was given for the planning application by Builders Ede to
construct a further five houses on the Coxwell Pit site. As I explained in the last newsletter this will involve the digging out of contaminated fill from the north east corner of the site. In places this will involve excavation to a depth of about 5 metres. For those of you who like statistics this amounts to about 11,000 tons of waste and will cost an estimated £308,000 to remove plus additional cost of bringing in clean fill. I had a chat with Jonathon Ede himself and he assured me that all appropriate environmental care would be taken during the operation and that the waste material, believed to be old household rubbish, would be disposed of in licenced sites. Concern has been expressed that this excavation, or the development itself, will 'clash' with a septic tank that is used by several of the nearby houses. Builders Ede are aware of this and have been in contact with the residents involved. They have offered the option of either connecting the houses directly to the main drainage system or of installing another septic tank. I understand that the preference is for a new septic tank since connection to the mains would mean additional water rate charges to the residents . It is hoped that work will start on the site in August. Now that all is in agreement as far as planning is concerned the associated 106 agreement will mean that Faringdon's schools will benefit to the amount of £35000, which I am glad to say, will be paid directly to Faringodon Town Council for distribution to the schools and will not have to pass through the tacky digits of the County Council of District Council! The gift of the SSSI and the back fields will also pass to the Town Council. It is worth noting that, as far as I am aware, this is the first time that a developer has effectively ensured the protection of an SSSI in so generous a manner. Although the presence of the SSSI limited the total development of this particular site Jonathon Ede's decision to simply hand it over to the Town remains a generous gesture, the more so since he will also undertake some £20,000 worth of 'landscaping' on the donated land to help ensure adequate access to, and safety on the site. He deserves a vigorous vote of thanks! Norman Snelling. |
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