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LEADERS at South Oxfordshire District Council have acted quickly to allay suspicions that the council does not care about the future of Wallingford.

Stung by recent criticisms from traders and councillors that the district council was not doing enough, leader Ann Ducker and chief executive David Buckle called a special meeting at the council's Crowmarsh HQ.

They met Derrick Hoare, chairman of Wallingford Partnership Ltd, the independent group consisting of businessmen, teachers, councillors and individuals tasked with bringing more trade and tourism into the town, and Elaine Hornsby, chairman of Wallingford Business Partnership which represents local traders.

The result was an agreement to work together more closely to secure Wallingford's revitalisation and to meet on a regular basis.

Mrs Ducker said: "We have said many times that the district council is 100 per cent behind moves to make sure that Wallingford has a secure and profitable future.

"We want to reassure people that this is still the case and that we will be working hard for Wallingford.

"The meeting was positive and constructive. That has gone a long way to show the business community that the council really does care.

"We are working actively to redevelop the old Waitrose supermarket site."

She added: "We were quite open with the business representatives that the council can only do so much to secure the town's long-term vitality. Ultimately new businesses will only come into the town if they see the right market opportunities."

She and Mr Buckle, along with economic development strategic director Matt Prosser, agreed that Wallingford faced a lot of challenges as people's shopping habits changed and places like Didcot developed. Mr Hoare said after the meeting: "It was a worthwhile and positive meeting. The district council is putting forward a development brief for the old Waitrose site and once cabinet has agreed on this in the autumn, it will be put out to developers for action.

"That is very positive indeed and the council can rest assured we in Wallingford will be playing our part to the full."

Local traders were angry that at an earlier meeting with the town council, Mr Buckle seemed to dismiss Wallingford by saying it was not the district council's business to attract new shops to the town.

That had prompted Mrs Hornsby to call for "action and not words" and last week's meeting had been the result.

After it she said, speaking for the business community: "It was very hopeful and positive.

"We put the views of the people at the sharp end very forcefully and we had a good discussion about Wallingford and its needs.

"The meeting cleared the air and I think Wallingford will benefit in the long run."

12:59pm Saturday 17th May 2008

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