RE: Chipping Norton Town Football Club/Walterbush Road

Dear All

We know there may be many of you who may be wondering what the status of Chipping Norton Town Football Club (Walterbush Road) is. CNTFC have generated the below update as we know it, as of today.

Since the public meeting held during the summer of 2016 at Chipping Norton Town Hall, whereby the current owner and developer of the ground at Chipping Norton Town Football Club (Walterbush Road) was present, there were several output actions which have or have not been progressed by both parties involved.

Furthermore, any potential deal which was previously brought to the table by the land owner and developer has since been subsequently withdrawn. This then comes onto one of the most significant questions we’re sure you are all dying to ask, which is regards to the contractual agreements of which we were unable to gather.

Despite our best and persistent efforts, it appears to still be the case and we are still seeking the appropriate channels in which to track these documents down. We appreciate this may not be the answer you wanted and will of course update if things change going forward.

Back in quarter four of 2017, the land owner and developer had proposed plans of turning the newly constructed building/facility into a children’s nursery. Reference WODC “17/02949/FUL, Change of use of newly built sports clubhouse (Class use D2) to children’s nursery (Class use D1). Chipping Norton Club, Evans Way, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 5QX”.

As we’re sure many of you are aware, this proposal received over circa 150 objections by the local community, residents etc. This therefore resulted in the proposed plans being withdrawn in October of 2017. But that wasn’t the end of it.

It then came to light that, in fact, planning permissions were not actually required to turn the newly constructed building/facility into a children’s nursery. At this time, it was our understanding that this would be for a temporary use and period, of which we’ve been informed by the WODC (West Oxfordshire District Council) that in fact this is indeed a permanent change.

So, what does this mean?

What this essentially means is the land owner/developer is fully within their rights to allow a registered nursery to occupy and use the newly constructed building/facility.

20th of November 2017 saw confirmation by WODC Planning Office that the land owner/developer did not require prior approval by WODC subject to the compliance with the required conditions.

We’re led to believe that the proposed nursery is franchise nursery called “Banana Moon Nursery”. We understand internal building works are currently being carried out on the newly constructed building/facility in order to facilitate such nursery.

It has not been confirmed and we’ve not received an official statement from the proposed nursery, but we understand that this shall accommodate children between the ages of 3 months to 5 years of age, with sessions between the hours of 7.30am – 6.30pm.

If any of you would like literature on planning legalisation/regulation, please contact WODC Planning, we’re sure they would be more than happy to help, as this is public/freedom of information.

Where does this leave the current footballing teams X2 of Chipping Norton Town Football Club? Both men’s first and reserve footballing teams shall continue to play their football at Enstone Sports and Social Club (once again, many thanks go out to them!), as they have been doing so over the past 2 years. Although, a permanent home within Chipping Norton Town would be our preferred and desired option as a long-term solution. One would hope, this may one day be the case.

Chipping Norton Town Football Club shall continue in our investigatory efforts in further identifying historic sequence of events and shall endeavour to update the local/residing community in due course.

We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of the local residents/community which have and continue to support the current Chipping Norton Town Football Club.

We, the players, managers and supporters would also like to say a huge thank you to all involved within Enstone Sports and Social Club; for their continuing support and for allowing CNTFC to continue playing football at their club/ground, using their changing facilities and club house. Without their support and co-operation CNTFC would no longer be playing men’s football.

Please note, information/details stated above are either factual, our understanding or can be found via the WODC website as public/freedom of information.

Please feel free to contact us (CNTFC) directly, if you have any additional questions or queries.

Yours Faithfully

CNTFC