Agatha Christie’s former home Winterbook House, could become a museum as Wallingford Town Council decide to apply to register the house as an asset to the community. The former wordsmith’s home that provided inspiration for some of the greatest crime novels of the 20th Century is up for sale with a guide price in excess of £2.75m. Member of the public Amy Smith, spoke at a Wallingford Town Council meeting praising the famous crime novelist’s work and persuading the council to apply to register the former home as a community asset. She suggested the surrounding area could be used for bars, cafes and a shop and its grounds could be used for theatrical and arts events and celebrations both public and private.
A SURVEY of all the candidates standing in this week s elections has found the majority back more measures to get people out of their cars and onto bikes. The questionnaire by the Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel (CoHSAT), found the vast majority of the 300 would-be politicians who responded were in favour of doing more to prevent climate change through transport. Simon Pratt, co-chair of CoHSAT, said: “We have asked the candidates in the forthcoming elections to support our manifesto and address the pressing issues of the climate emergency, air pollution and traffic noise. We want everyone to be able walk and cycle for everyday trips on quiet streets and in liveable neighbourhoods.”
Holiday log cabins refused permission );
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PLANS to build up to seven log cabins on land off Tidmore Lane, Woodcote, have been refused permission.
Marcellus Brown, from Harrow, wanted to set up a holiday site with associated hot tubs, a sewage treatment plant, parking and landscaping.
The two- and three-bedroom cabins were to be mobile structures which would have been built off site.
Mr Brown argued that his scheme should be given the go-ahead because a similar one exists in Ewelme.
But planning officers at South Oxfordshire District Council recommended refusal, saying the cabins would harm the character of the area, affect neighbours’ quality of life and pose a road safety hazard.
Horse jumps need consent
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THE owner of a new equestrian centre at Woodcote is seeking retrospective planning permission for three permanent jumps and a shallow earth mound.
Diana Rhodes, who opened Chiltern Cross Country, off Oxford Road, last month, already has planning permission for a car park and the use of mobile jumps on the 11-hectare site. However, she has reinforced some natural features like ridges and dips with logs or support beams and South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority, says that this makes them permanent.
Ms Rhodes, who owns the land with her partner Guy Hildred, accepts the mound didn’t have consent but she thought neighbours would be in favour as it screens the site from view.
Four more new houses
FOUR new homes could be built in Woodcote.
Bella Vista Developments, of Aldermaston, wants to demolish an existing house and build two pairs of semi-detached properties on a 0.12-hectare plot behind neighbouring properties in Gap Way, a cul-de-sac off Whitehouse Road.
They would be built next to a development of four other homes which was awarded planning permission by South Oxfordshire District Council last year.
The applicant says the houses would meet high environmental standards.
The council is due to make a decision by June 4. Planning officers have said the plan is acceptable in principle. );