New glamping site by the Spelsbury Road (Debate)

Wed 25 Aug 2021, 17:40

The British Tourism Industry needs to be supported surely, since every facility had to close for 7 months in total in the last year. It's a question of balancing the eco system of woodlands and sustainability with Charlbury being welcoming to responsible holiday makers to enjoy the ANOB that we are lucky to live in. 

Wed 25 Aug 2021, 12:31

It may interest some to know that the subject of temporary campsites was covered on this morning's "Farming Today" on Radio Four, available here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000yysb

Tue 24 Aug 2021, 18:34 (last edited on Tue 24 Aug 2021, 18:35)

Graeme Widdows may well be congratulating himself on eliciting a generally positive response from the people of Charlbury to his glamping site opposite Spelsbury Villas but in doing so he would be underestimating the deep distress caused to the people most directly affected by it. It’s hard to believe that those that devised the government scheme allowing pop-up campsites envisaged that they would ‘pop-up’ just yards from residential properties without any form of consultation or that they would have considered it appropriate to bulldoze woodland, shoot inconvenient wildlife and deposit shipping containers in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in order to facilitate what are, by definition, temporary sites. Recent research has shown the potential for large-scale tree planting to absorb CO2 and the UK Committee on Climate Change has called for three billion trees to be planted by 2050. Perhaps if Mr Widdows really wanted to benefit the people of Charlbury and secure a sustainable long-term future for his young family he would be planting more trees and nurturing the precious area of woodland of which he is so fortunate to be a custodian rather than damaging and exploiting it.

Tue 24 Aug 2021, 10:56

Although the “temporary” glamping site set up by Graeme Widdows appears a great use of an unused woodland, it is in a very inconsiderate position only 25 metres from the front doors of Spelsbury Villas residents.

Graeme Widdows should have bothered to establish contact with the residents along Spelsbury Road…

Long post - click to read full text

Sat 21 Aug 2021, 19:28

The Graeme Widdows who is setting up the glamping site is the son of the Graeme Widdows who grew up in Charlbury, and whose life was recorded in the Charlbury Chronicle back in 2016 -- so not as surprising or confusing as all that.

As it says there, the younger Graeme "is a cabinet maker, and runs a kitchen business in London". The link that Philip Ambrose supplied clearly indicates that it's the same chap -- coming home, as it were. 

Sat 21 Aug 2021, 19:06 (last edited on Sat 21 Aug 2021, 19:09)

There is nothing in the Local Plan that prevents a campsite from being set up in this area.  But like all permanent development it would require a planning application.

Sat 21 Aug 2021, 18:42

Some may be surprised that there are so many new camping sites this year including this one and also one at Cornbury. This appears to be because of this "Red tape cut to allow campsites to remain open all summer". https://www.gov.uk/government/news/red-tape-cut-to-allow-campsites-to-remain-open-all-summer

I read that to be a 2021 specific, and not a license to put up camp sites anywhere without planning permission. There is a 28 day rule allowing land owners to set up a temporary campsite but it is quite strict, you can't put up any permanent structures. It was expanded to 56 days during the pandemic, but that ends on 31st December 2021. Temporary campsites can only operate for 28 days after that date.

Am I right in understanding that all developments including permanent camp sites in the Charlbury Burford subdivision up to 2030 had to be laid down in the WODC local plan? And that anything that is not in there should not be approved? Now off to read up on this matter.

Sat 21 Aug 2021, 18:26

Crikey.

Thank you Philip.

Confusing or what?!

Sat 21 Aug 2021, 18:12 (last edited on Sat 21 Aug 2021, 18:29)

For the avoidance of doubt and for absolute clarity, the person to whom Phil refers is not the same Graeme Widdows

find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/13373730/officers

If planning permission is applied for, granted and the site becomes permanent, I am sure that the Widdows family will run it well, but that does not detract from the legitimate concerns of residents of Spelsbury Villas about the proximity of the bell tents and toilets as well as possible noise. The entrance / exit onto the blind bend at the top of the hill was only closed off after residents' complaints to OCC Highways.

The Spelsbury Road already has one campsite and with staycations we have noticed a marked increase in pedestrians along what is currently a 40mph road with NO pavement. Compare and contrast with The Slade which is wide, with pavements on both sides but enjoys a 30mph limit. Near misses are becoming commonplace.

Sat 21 Aug 2021, 16:43

Well said, Phil.  Couldn't agree more.  

Sat 21 Aug 2021, 15:59

People who are questioning Graeme's motives and intentions should really research what this man has contributed to the town over the decades. Far from being "blighted" as one correspondent said, this improves the opportunity for more people to come and enjoy our lovely landscape.

Sat 21 Aug 2021, 15:21

Fully agree with Ed, I can see this being a great addition to Charlbury and the setting for the Bell tents in the woods is perfect. Good Luck.

Sat 21 Aug 2021, 09:06 (last edited on Sat 21 Aug 2021, 09:11)

Mark, Graeme Widdows and his family have been running the Banbury Hill campsite for many years.  It is an exemplary business and the Shed is a much loved facility which people from Charlbury flock to.  It is true that the opening to the site on Spelsbury Road was not given permission originally, and that has been rectified. But the idea that he is planning to make the campsite permanent without applying for the necessary planning permission is baseless. You also assume that your district and town councillors would allow that to go unnoticed and unchallenged. I can assure you that would not be the case, were it to happen.

Fri 20 Aug 2021, 18:44

I walked my dog up there yesterday to have a nose and I thought it was great use of a previously unused tiny piece of woodland not harming anyone or anything. Good on them and another nice addition and offer to and from Charlbury.

Wed 18 Aug 2021, 22:19

If this is a development for this year only, as a response to demand for ‘staycations’ then I do not see a great problem, as long as it is safe.  However, continued long term usage and further developments should receive full and proper scrutiny.

Wed 18 Aug 2021, 20:54

It was interesting to read the message from Graeme Widdows in News about his new glamping site and his intention "not to distract from the beautiful landscape and to make the site as unobtrusive as possible". Unfortunately the evidence indicates otherwise. The top of the field is now a car park for people using the tents and he has already put up a football net. So far he is relying on the new 56 day rule for pop-up camping sites. That began on 6 August. When it expires, will he dismantle the site? Or will he continue to develop it, as his message suggests. If so, will he apply for planning permission? So far he has proceeded without consulting anyone, the Town Council, the WODC, or the Highways Authority. When he opened up an entrance to the site from the Spelsbury Road on a blind corner, the Highways Authority placed a ban on using the entrance because it was dangerous. That is why users of the site are now accessing it from the gate at the bottom of Pound Hill. Those of us who have been following this development are increasingly concerned that it will go ahead whether or not it receives planning permission. And yet another of the beautiful landscapes around Charlbury in the AONB will have been blighted without good reason.