Update on Bank Planning Applications

The HSBC bank which is due to close in August has this week had a permitted development order submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council to covert the bank into a restaurant or cafe.

Although the Town Council can’t make any recommendations on PDOs, at the Planning meeting this week Councillors agreed that they should write to SODC to say that there is an oversaturation of hospitality in the town and recently there have been some closures (Crockers, Sage & Squash, Drifters).  There should be a better balance between retail and hospitality in the town.

The planning application to convert Lloyds Bank on Reading Road to a mixed use of 3 flats and commercial retail use was this week refused planning.

At the Planning Committee Meeting, Councillor Will Hamilton proposed that there should be a community bank hub in the Town Hall.  It was agreed that this would be put on a Council agenda after Councillor Michelle Thomas, Chair of Planning spoke with the Chairs of the Finance, Strategy & Management Committee and Town & Community Committee.

Councillor Lorraine Hillier confirmed that new owners had taken over the Post Office this week and would be making improvements to both the inside and outside of the shop and are currently recruiting staff.