Planning permission granted

On February 10, by a vote of six to one, the West Area Planning Committee provisionally approved the SIAHAF proposal for developing the Jericho canalside site. Jericho Wharf Trust Chair Phyllis Starkey says: "We are pleased. This is something for which the Jericho community has been fighting, for well over a decade. We can now start fundraising, and working with the developer to deliver the community centre and the working boatyard.” "Nevertheless, there is still some way to go, because the Council has only given provisional approval. It has detailed 45 conditions on issues that the developer will now have to sort out with the Council and the Jericho Wharf Trust". Many of these conditions will form part of legally binding '106 agreement', which, among other things will specify how the community facilities will be delivered. For example, the developer has undertaken to build the boatyard up to roof level so the agreement will have to specify exactly what these works will consist of. Johnny Sandelson of SIAHAF said at the meeting . "There will be no question of us shirking any of our responsibilities. Nobody is cutting and running from this site. I think this is a great opportunity and am proud to be associated with this scheme." In a subsequent interview with Radio Oxford he said: "We are delighted by the support for the Council. 45 conditions is a lot, but we are confident that we can meet these and be on site over the next few months.” With respect to the community centre, he added:, "There now has to be a fundraising exercise where all parties can get together to raise money for this fabulous new facility. We wanted to show a last-minute act of goodwill and support to the community trust so we are giving £150,000 which will be a boost to their fundraising efforts."