Businesses 'face closure' over redevelopment scheme

A 78-year-old steel fabricator business says it will have to cease trading if a hotel and leisure development goes ahead, its owner has warned.

Developers want to build on land off Abingdon Road, near Culham in Oxfordshire.

Colin Grace of AW Grace said his and other small businesses on the site have "nowhere possible to go".

The firm behind the scheme, CEG Land Promotions II, said it would have "substantial economic benefits".

Its planning application, submitted in May, detailed proposals for the Culham Number 1 development including a hotel, retail buildings, children's nursery and gym.

The development would see the demolition of the existing industrial units.

Mr Grace said his steel fabricators firm which also did traditional blacksmith work, was a "needed business" which employed nine people.

The company was established in 1948 and had been based at the Culham site for 27 years.

"The businesses on this site, all the units are used - there are people who don't need the big trading estate units with high rental. This site suits," he said.

He said he had tried to look for potential alternative sites for the business but its classification as "heavy industrial" made it potentially difficult to get planning permission.

"As an established business, there is nowhere for us to go and nowhere wants us.

"It could be the end. If we cant find a suitable place we'll have to shut shop and redundancies will be made.

"There's no support for small businesses - the backbone of this country," he said.

In its planning application, CEG Land Promotions II said: "It makes efficient use of a previously developed and under used site and supports economic growth and productivity, taking into account both local business needs and wider opportunities for development."

The public consultation on the scheme concludes on Friday and a decision on the planning application is due to be made by the council in September.

South Oxfordshire District Council has been approached for comment.

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