A late-nineteenth century pub may be reopened alongside a hotel and community orchard, but villagers say there’s no safe access.

The Waggon and Horses, on Abingdon Road in Culham, near Abingdon is the subject of a planning application which would see its refurbishment, including the demolition of twentieth-century extensions, replaced by new extensions, along with the creation of a 20-bed single storey courtyard hotel and a community orchard.

A spokesperson for Culham Parish Council said: “The council has voted unanimously in support of this planning application.

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“It was in the minutes of the October meeting, and the parish council felt that this was in keeping with the neighbourhood plan and could incorporate a community orchard, fulfilling the special circumstances required to achieve planning in a green and brown belt.”

A planning application was also submitted in 2018, three years after the pub closed down due to financial unviability, which proposed to reopen the pub alongside building eight houses and a new 12-room hotel.

A statement from DPDS Consulting group, on behalf of Morrells Farming, the owner of the site, said: “It has been established through a financial viability appraisal that some form of additional supporting development will be required in order to make the public house business more financially sustainable in the future.

“The additional hotel and orchard development will be a vital part of the overall scheme, and will ensure the pub will once again be celebrated as the focal point for the community of Culham, creating additional jobs too.”

One villager commenting on the application, Marianne Beatrice Williams, said: “I support the planning proposal. It would be a significant benefit to the village to have a restaurant and pub, and would be a welcome local amenity.

“The village would also benefit from the redevelopment of the site which is currently a bit of an eyesore and from the proposed community orchard.

“Having some accommodation on site does not significantly detract from this and could itself be a useful amenity.”

However, some residents are concerned about accessing the site because its situated next to a busy main road with limited pedestrian access.

One villager said: “The additions of a pub and community orchard are welcome and greatly needed.

“We would have preferred to see a proposal for a pedestrian crossing included, as there is currently no safe way for pedestrians to access the pub, whether crossing Tollgate Road, or the A415 if coming from Thame Lane.

“The majority of village users would ideally want to get to the pub and community space by foot and this might put them off.”

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1