Another marina for the Oxford

PLANS have been submitted for yet another new marina for the Oxford Canal—this time at its southern end near Kidlington.

It is farmer Merlin Smith who wishes to diversify by constructing a 200 berths marina on his property adjoining the Oxford Canal at Yarnton, Alan Tilbury reveals.

Also hire business

As with the other new marinas on this waterway, it will not only include the normal facilities, but also include starting a boat hire business.

The plans submitted to Cherwell District Council state he needs to create a new access road, together with 'footpaths which would give pedestrians and cyclists a direct route along the canal towpath into Oxford city centre'—yet the towpath already exists.

He has also stated there will be 'enhanced ecology and landscaping, and the creation of new habitats' on the property around the marina.

Objections and approvals

There have been objections from Yarnton Parish Council over development in the Green Belt and raised issues about access. There have also been objections stating there were already nine marinas on the waterway, and that another would cause congestion during the summer.

But Fiona Lloyd was of the opposite opinion stating the marina was a 'much needed facility' for local boaters. Whilst Stephen Rice, of GJP Marinas, the agent for the plans, maintains the development would help regenerate the canal and expand recreational facilities available on the waterways network.

Quiet

Though there was objection against the marina on the Oxford Canal at Onley from personalities Timothy West and Prunella Scales, we have heard of no objection from them to this marina.

Neither have we heard of an objection from Tim Coghlan of Braunston Marina who headed the Onley objection by dubbing it the Monster Marina.

The plans do not included residentials, and if approved it has been stated the marina could be open by 2014.