Thame residents were out in force over the weekend to protest against a proposed concrete facility. 

Around 130 people joined the demonstration which brought people from across Thame as well as the Lea Park estate which is immediately over the road from the planned facility.

The protest was joined by Freddie Van Mierlo, the recently elected MP for Henley and Thame, who came to show his support and assured protesters that he would be attending the council planning meeting, when the scheme will be decided.

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Mark Goodall, chairman of Lea Park Residents Association, said: “It was really heartening to see how many people came to join today’s protest.

"It just shows how deeply our community cares about this issue and how essential it is that the county council makes a clear decision against it soon.”

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Lea Park Residents Association are fighting hard to stop the planned concrete crushing facility at the top of Moorend Lane, off Tythrop Way.

The planning application is set to be decided on October 14 by the Oxfordshire County Council's planning committee. 

They now have more than 1,100 signatures on the petition.

Protesters say the development would pose threats to the community's well-being and environment.

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There are concerns about the dust, the noise and the potential for further water pollution on a site that’s right next to Thame Skate Park, Thame United Football Club and just over the road from one of the most popular children’s playgrounds in Thame.

The pathway just adjoining is currently a well-used bridleway to Haddenham and a popular dog-walking route.

Campaigners also say, if the planning application is agreed, it will end the viability of the long-planned Thame – Haddenham Greenway which is planned along this route owing to the danger of mixing heavy good vehicles with cycles, pedestrians and wheelchair users.

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Residents are also worried about the huge increase in volume of HGV traffic along Tythrop Way (A4129), an already dangerously busy road which has already seen multiple accidents.

In the application's planning statement, it said: “The development would not give rise to any significant adverse impacts on local amenity or the natural environment, would have a safe and suitable site access, would be acceptable in its local context, would return the land to beneficial use, and would have strong benefits both for local economic growth and in resilience to climate change.

"It would support a business that is for the purposes of using natural resources prudently and minimising waste and pollution to assist in moving to a low carbon economy which would in turn support healthy communities.”