[imc-oxford-features] Feature PROPOSAL

[hamish]

This needs some links, a photo and a bit about the tree occupations 
adding - then can it go up as a FEATURE on Oxford IMC

Westgate 'indefinitely postponed'

The multi-million pound commercial Westgate expansion in Oxford centre, 
driven by Capital Shopping, has been 'indefinitely postponed', due to 
the credit crunch. This would not have happened had the developers not 
been so greedy and complacent that they added into their proposal a 
stretch of land known as Abbey Place housing; 14 housing units for 
vulnerable and sometimes extremely disabled residents. Capital Shopping 
tried, with the backing of most of Oxford City Council, to evict and 
demolish these houses. It did not turn out as easy as they had hoped, 
and a High Court challenge led to Public Inquiry into the proposal to 
compulsorily purchase and evict those of the houses that are privately 
owned. A delay of 6 months ensued, during which the economic climate 
changed enough to force Capital Shopping to put their plans on 
indefinite hold.

Now the land lies semi-desolate, with mature trees having been cut down, 
and the crumbling multi-storey car park still attracting drivers into 
Oxford's already congested and polluted centre. But the residents of 
Abbey Place are still in thier homes, and are now hoping that the City 
Council will at last make the repairs to their homes that have been 
outstanding during the past year.

However the planning permission for the site is now almost 2 years old. 
In another year it will have run its course, and the developers will 
have to re-apply if they want to develop the land according to their brief.

The battle is not yet over therefore, but only postponed for the time 
being.

PS. we still need a feture on the EOCC aressets (: