RESIDENTS have had their first glimpse of a Neighbourhood Plan for Summertown and St Margaret’s.

Draft policies for a document to shape development in the area were unveiled in a five-hour consultation event at Woodstock Road Baptist Church on Tuesday.

They included proposals that new developments should be environmentally-friendly and designed to favour pedestrians and cyclists, more affordable homes for ‘key workers’ and the elderly, and protection for important buildings.

The forum also suggested school ‘travel plans’ to help reduce the number of parents driving children to school, and supported ideas put forward by transport bosses at Oxfordshire County Council, such as improved bus services and a workplace parking levy.

Forum chairman Martin Roberts said: “We are very pleased with how things have gone.

“Everyone has been really interested and there has been some good discussion.

“We’ve put a lot of work into this and it seems like it is going to pay off.”

The forum has spent 18 months preparing policies for its proposed Neighbourhood Plan through group meetings.

Now Mr Roberts said it would begin a wider consultation process and seek views from the public.

The policies focus on the five key areas – community and leisure, environment, housing, retail and transport.

Grandmother-of-one Dr Jane Stockton said the most crucial issue was housing.

The retired teacher, 60, said: “The character of this area is changing. It is becoming unaffordable for ordinary people.

“When I moved here 20 years go it was just about possible on a teacher’s salary, but nowadays that is not the case. It is important to retain a mixed population.”

St Margaret’s city councillor Elizabeth Wade added: “It is also very important that we build more key worker housing.

“Our definition covers a range of people, many of whom earn less than the average wage but make valuable contributions to the community. We need them.”

Public health doctor Alison Hill, 65, was concerned about transport.

The grandmother-of-two said: “I believe very strongly that more people need to be encouraged to walk or cycle and what I like about the policies is that they emphasise improving facilities to enhance those activities.”

Transport group head Neil MacLennan said: “Reducing the impact of traffic is a big issue for people but there are questions about how you can influence that through planning. Most traffic goes through here, and does not originate here.

“With parking, you also have to strike a balance. You need enough for shops but you don’t want to encourage people to drive here.”

For more information about the plan visit summertownstmargaretsforum.org.uk