There are plans to build a massive new marina at the White Cross Farm site in Wallingford.

The plan is for a huge basin marina with fixed and floating pontoon moorings for approximately 280 boats, car parking, office and café, boat-hire, picnic and BBQ area.

The proposed access road is on the A329, just a few hundred metres up from the roundabout.

This site is on the Thames Path National trail, a public right of way.

There is a proposed new footbridge over the marina entrance, but it will then pass by a busy place with cars; lots of people, lots of boats.

First, however, there must be significant gravel and sand extraction – about 550,000 tonnes, which will take approximately four years.

So, as councillor Mark Gray says in last week’s Herald, is this really a gravel and sand extraction application in disguise?

There are no guarantees that after the gravel and sand have been taken, the marina will actually be built.

Where is the evidence that a marina is needed?

It is proposed the whole development will take approximately five years.

It will be in operation from 7am till 6pm weekdays and till 1pm on Saturdays.

If it goes ahead, there will be two extraction sites being worked near each other simultaneously (the other site is at New Barn Farm, and access to that site will be on the A4130 Bosley Way, between the Cholsey roundabout and the Hithercroft roundabout).

If the marina is built, what will be the impact on the river having to fill a huge basin?

Are the developers talking with those on the Carmel College site where flood defences are being built to protect the new properties?

Noise and dust across there will also be a factor.

According to the developer, data suggests that peak flow traffic will equate to only one additional car each minute on a Sunday afternoon.

But add this to the increased traffic from Site B and to the New Barn Farm site to see the true impact all week.

None of these applications work in isolation so should not be considered in isolation. Oxfordshire County Council and South Oxfordshire District Council, PLEASE TAKE NOTE. At present, unlike SODC’s website, OCC’s website does not show responses, which leaves us feeling like mushrooms – i.e. in the dark.

Go to myeplanning2.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ ref MW.0033/18 for full details and to comment on the application.