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Twitter spat offers conflicting views of how well Banbury is doing
14/02/2023
One described Banbury as “booming” but the other claimed wasted cash on a shopping centre in decline
A spat on Twitter between two local councillors has led to rival claims about whether the Castle Quay Centre and Waterside development has been a success or failure for the wider town since the shopping centre was purchased by Cherwell District Council.
Cherwell’s Deputy Leader Ian Corkin (Conservative) described Banbury as “booming”. But Councillor Ian Middleton (Green party) says the Conservative ruling group has been “wasting years and £millions on a shopping centre that is still in decline”.
The Twitter argument began after Councillor Corkin chose to criticize a County Council advertising campaign for new 20mph speed limits in the county. (The County Council is run by an alliance of Liberal, Labour and Green Councillors.) Councillor Middleton, who is also a County Councillor, defended the position.
In a rally of tweets that followed Councillor Corkin attacked the County Council’s record in areas such as school bus provision, a “chaotic” SEND service and the on-going low-traffic schemes being implemented in Oxford.
Councillor Middleton asked how Councillor Corkin would deal with Oxford’s traffic problems. He replied: “Not by forcing local businesses into bankruptcy or displacing traffic from leafy suburbs onto less affluent boundary roads”.
Councillor Middleton replied by focusing on the Conservative’s record as the controlling group at Cherwell District Council. He said: “Great to see you taking such an interest in independent High Street retail Ian. Maybe you should give some consideration to those businesses closer to home instead of pouring £millions of public money into ‘vanity projects’ like Castle Quay.”
In response Councillor Corkin linked to the Castle Quay Waterside website and said: “This is what we’ve delivered and the public love it and are flocking in. Banbury is booming and it’s been delivered by Conservative controlled [Cherwell District Council].”
But Councillor Middleton attacked the Tory record saying it did little for small businesses. He said: “Just proving my point Ian. Focussed on the shiny thing and ignoring all the small businesses that are still struggling. The only booming in Banbury is the echo inside the empty stores both in the high street you’ve undermined and in the shopping centre you have no idea how to run.”
Councillor Corkin described the Council’s plan as “proper ambitious place making … with the needs of our residents and businesses at its heart”.
But Councillor Middleton didn’t agree, replying: “It’s revisionist flim-flam Ian, born of a lack of understanding of how high street retail works and desperation from the Tory administration to try to look like they’re doing something for the town after wasting years and £millions on a shopping centre that is still in decline.
“So ‘ambitious’ that you’ve set a target date for this ‘vision’ 27 years in the future. You’ve done virtually nothing with [Castle Quay] shopping centre since buying it 5 years ago and pared back the original ‘vision’ for the waterfront development due to lack of interest from tenants.
“The shopping centre is now worth less than a quarter of what was paid for it and has increased pressures on the budget. Even the new development is valued at well under it’s development costs. All of this is going to be a huge burden for council tax payers across the district.
“A timeline that’s so far off in the future, you don’t really have to define it. Like I said, flim-flam.”
Councillor Corkin responded saying: “By definition ‘vision’ has to have a time line! This is basic stuff Ian. No wonder the county council is such a mess. As for the rest that’s just not true.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam