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Key Themes

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Key Themes

The opinions and views raised by participants at the Community Planning Weekend have been summarised and grouped under the following key themes:

1. Physical integration:
   People said that Cholsey and Fair Mile should be physically integrated to make travel between the two parts of the village easier. They said that the Reading Road was a barrier to movement, that vehicle speeds were too fast making it unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists. Speed limits should be enforced and pedestrian friendly crossings created particularly around the Reading Road/Papist Road junction. Fair Mile should belinked into the bus network so that it is easy to get from there to the village centre, the railway station and the school without using the car.
    
   "How can we stop this development being a separate village?"
    
2. Social integration:
   People said that Fair Mile and Cholsey should be two parts of one village not separate settlements. They wanted the Fair Mile Hospital development to be carefully designed to make sure this happens by:
   • ensuring there is a balanced mix of housing to create a mixed community of all ages and types that will fit in with the community in Cholsey;
   • creating community facilities at Fair Mile which complement and do not duplicate the existing facilities in Cholsey. At Fair Mile there could be a cricket pitch and uses for the theatre or chapel whilst other facilities (school and doctor’s surgery) should be located in Cholsey. This would encourage people from Fair Mile and Cholsey to mix and village groups to work together.
   
    
3. Fair Mile should retain its natural character:
   Participants said that the character of the landscape around the hospital, Ferry Lane and the riverside should be maintained and protected. They are what make the area unique and will really contribute to making the new Fair Mile a quality place with a strong character.
    
4. Heritage and conservation:
   People wanted the architectural and historical character of Fair Mile Hospital to be enhanced by the removal of most of the post-1948 buildings to reveal the original features. New buildings should be located predominantly on the flanks of the site and sensitively designed to fit in with existing buildings.
    
   "Fair Mile should be a place all residents and all those who live nearby are proud to be associated with!"
    
5. Sustainable development:
   Participants said that the new development at Fair Mile Hospital should put as little stress on the existing social, physical and ecological infrastructure as possible and be built to high standards of sustainability in terms of energy consumption and impact on the environment.
    
6. Impact on the character of Cholsey:
   People did not want development at Fair Mile to alter the rural village character of Cholsey. New development must be sensitive to the existing character of Cholsey and further enrich its village feel.
    
7. Getting about:
   Participants wanted to see cycle and pedestrian travel throughout Cholsey made safer and easier. A network of safe footpaths and cycle routes could be created and existing routes improved, particularly the ‘missing links’ in the footpaths on the Reading and Wallingford Roads.
    
8. Continue to work with the local community:
   Participants wanted the developers to work closely with all stakeholders particularly Cholsey Parish Council and South Oxfordshire District Council and to take the recommendations from the Cholsey Plan into account. There should be on-going communication with local people as plans develop as well as more opportunities for people to have their say.
    
   "This is an exciting scheme, if you get it wrong the first time you’re not going to get another chance!"