Sir, In relation to the recent story about the updated “Didcot Gateway vision”, I note that this is yet another proposal which rides roughshod over the needs and sensibilities of the existing community, all in the name of so-called development.
Why should the existing residents have their neighbourhood blighted by an eight-storey building and see their community pub demolished in the process? Tidy the area up by all means, but do so in a manner which respects those who already live there.
There is a clear need for new facilities in Didcot and I would like to see far more ambitious plans set out for the Didcot ‘A’ site than the mediocre and uninspiring plans proposed by Clowes & Graftongate.
Large-sized brown-field sites such as this are a rarity that must be exploited to the full. This is the ideal location for a new generation of town houses and flats. Let three-, four-, five- or even eight-storey developments go there where they will overlook nobody.
Design the area with lessons learnt from the past and make it a high-density environment that combines family and first-time buyer homes and flats with community spaces and amenities.
If we are to meet housing demands, we need to make better use of brown-field sites like Didcot ‘A’ – there is never any excuse for steamrollering the rights of existing residents – especially when a whole new brown-field site is ready and waiting to be utilised.
Lee Upcraft
UKIP Parliamentary Candidate for the Wantage Constituency
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