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Recreation ground finally opens after months of delays
08/01/2025
Lessons must be learned so future legal quagmires don’t leave homeowners without the facilities they’ve been promised
A local play area has finally opened to the public after months of delays.
Local councillors Andrew Crichton and Kerrie Thornhill had been pushing for the Thenford Way Recreation Ground to be formally passed to Banbury Town Council so local people could take advantage of the facility, but had been bounced between the developer Bellway and Cherwell District Council, who needed to sign-off the work as satisfactorily completed.
The green space forms part of the Hanwell View development, east of the Southam Road on the northern side of Banbury.
A number of local cases have emerged where the legal ‘adoption’ of public spaces at new developments has substantially lagged behind the sale of homes, leaving residents facing long waits to access promised facilities.
The issue at Thenford Way was first raised by Councillor Crichton in 2023. At the time Bellway claimed the issue was caused by delays at Cherwell District Council. However, the Council claimed it was a normal part of the adoption process.
Councillor Crichton said: “I am relieved that local families can finally access this facility. With my colleague Kerrie I have been contacting Bellway, the District Council and the Town Council repeatedly over two years to try and get this matter resolved. It really should not take this long.”
Councillor Dr Kerrie Thornhill added: “The families in Hanwell View have waited patiently, and longer than is fair, for this matter to be resolved. Thanks to [Banbury Town Council], my fellow Councillors, and the residents who have worked patiently to resolve this situation”
Both councillors now recommend that Cherwell District and Banbury Town councils identify lessons learned, to prevent future legal quagmires that left homeowners without the facilities they had been promised.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam