We the undersigned petition to Protect Thame's green accessible space and stop the building of new houses on a flood plain. As current residents of Thame, Oxfordshire, or the nearby communities, we object to the building of the proposed new houses on the area north west of Thame, on the 'designated open space' next to the current Thame Meadows housing estate for the reasons below;

• The area proposed is a flood plain. The current flood risk assessment suggests that the 100 year +31% line is below the line of houses. However pictures from flooding just 2 weeks ago overlaid on this line, suggest the water is already reaching these proposed houses before they are even built. This throws significant concerns over the accuracy of the model used, not to mention the potential impact of this and other developments of increased flooding of houses and gardens here and elsewhere along the river. (See submitted flood risk vs actual flood levels pictures below)
• Water and Sewerage will be supplied and dealt with by Thames Water, whom are already struggling to provide water to the town, and whom during recent flooding pumped raw sewerage into the local river for over 50 hours. There have also been multiple sewerage spills over roads and into gardens in the current Thame Meadows estate, so the system is clearly not able to support the current system let alone 150+ more.  
• Thame's current amenities are at breaking point, schools are already oversubscribed, Doctor's surgery's are struggling with the demand and getting an NHS Dentist is near impossible. With another approximately 150+ houses where will the extra schools, Doctor's and Dentist's come from?
• The current neighbourhood plan specifically states this area should not be developed and left as open space. We suggest instead it be used to extend the Cuttlebrook Nature Reserve, which the Town Council have currently asked us to stop using because it is so over-utilised!
• The area to be built on is designated 'accessible open space'. A legal agreement between the developer and the District Council was put in place to prevent development on this open space when the current Thame Meadows Estate was built! This agreement should be enforced to protect the small amount of green space Thame has left.
• The current open space provides homes and green space to an array of wildlife species. The current plans also destroy multiple historic hedgerows which house, feed and protect these species including kingfishers, woodpeckers, hedgehogs, fieldfare, water voles, grass snakes, deer, otters, Great Egrets, Little Egrets and many other types of birds, and possibly even great crested newts.
• The proposed houses would have a significant negative impact on views from Oxford Road blocking Historic Thame's only view to the neighbouring countryside would be lost forever. As well as destroying the last known ridge and furrow field in this area.
• The density and scale of the housing plans far exceed that of the current estate and is in direct conflict with the current Thame Neighbourhood Plan and in protecting the feeling of Historic Thame.
• No green space is found separating the current development from the new development in significant areas of the proposed plan. This is in direct conflict with the Thame Neighbourhood Plan, other information the developer submitted, and not in keeping with all previous new developments in Thame.
• The large number of proposed houses and no plans for an extra access road, also means a huge and unacceptable increase in volume of traffic down Roman Way, Mercian Way, Weavers Branch and Causeway close. The roads are already affected by poor layout, lack of traffic calming and drop off/collections from Lord Williams School. Residents have seen many accidents on the access roads which do not appear to be in the date, and also many near misses. Doubling the houses will double these risks, especially given the speeds that people drive down these roads at already.  It will also inevitably put up car emissions, create poorer air quality in more densely populated area.
• The current builder also still hasn't finished a long list of outstanding obligations to the current residents, and allowing them to build more when they haven't even finished the last one with terrible finishes to certain things, for example the playground - which the local children cannot use due to the poor surface meaning the place is a giant litter tray, putting them at risk of disease playing there stepping and falling in it frequently.  

In conclusion, Thame already suffers from a scarcity of green spaces. This particular area was designated as open Space, not to be developed as art of the Thame Neighbourhood Plan and current planning permission. Thus was to give us much needed respite, connection with nature and to play a crucial role in preventing flooding in other parts of our town and surrounding villages.

The loss of this green space would be catastrophic for residents and local flora and fauna. It means fewer places to enjoy outdoor activities and less habitat for these animals which are already under threat due to urbanisation. Please note this area should already be publicly accessible, which the developer has still not delivered on. 
We believe that it is essential that planning permissions are respected and enforced to protect such valuable spaces from being lost forever, and urge the relevant authorities to take action against this proposal which is in direct conflict to their own planning permissions (section 106 agreement)

If new houses cannot be avoided we urge you to consider other sites that are not on a flood plain, don't destroy this rich and diverse area of open space that could easily extend our nature reserve, which is already overused, and can accommodate some of the already needed amenities including schools, nurseries and doctors.

Please join us in preserving the future of Thame by signing this petition today! Let's stand together against this development and protect our precious open spaces for generations to come.