Banbury canal plans approved

THE plans to extend Castle Quay Shopping Centre and cover part of the Oxford Canal with a glazed roof have been approved by Cherwell District Council.

The extension will include a cinema, supermarket and large hotel with 92 rooms, the proposals submitted by the Castle Quay owners Scottish Widows Investment Partnerships, Alan Tilbury reveals.

Objections from golfers

However it did not go through without objections, as the council chamber was crammed with members of the adjoining golf club campaigning against the decision, as the development would mean the golf club would have to be demolished, as the plans also include housing, that would encroach on the golf club property.

Though an artist's impression of the development shows people walking on towpaths at either side of the waterway under a glazed canopy, the plans actually show high rise buildings with secure fenced service areas backing onto the waterway.

This is very strange as developers tend to bring any waterway into the development, but this time it is being ignored with the canal fronting service areas.