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District Council gives the go-ahead: opposition continues
On 2 April, the Planning Committee of Cherwell District Council gave the go-ahead for the planning application lodged by the UK Borders Agency to build an 800-place 'immigration removal centre' on MoD land near
Piddington, near Bicester, Oxon.
It was not entirely plain sailing, however, for the UK BA and for the consultancy firm CGMS of Morley House, 26 Holburn Viaduct, London, who prepared and submitted the planning application.
Thirteen councillors were present at the meeting, all of whom are Conservative Party members. Neither the Liberal Democrats nor the Labour Party - both of whose local organizations oppose the planning application - had any councillor members present, so the views of their parties were not represented.
Planning officer Mr Bob Duxbury, presenting his report recommending acceptance of the planning application with conditions, said that planning considerations only could be taken into account, not human rights issues.
Nevertheless, there was opposition, in the form of David Hughes, councillor for Launton ward including the proposed site, and Catherine Fulljames, district councillor for nearby Caversfield and county councillor for Ploughley ward, also including the site and neighbouring villages.
Moving rejection of the application, Councillor Hughes said the project was not sustainable environmentally. During his well-argued speech, he said he was impressed by a visit to Colnbrook detention centre, but also, referring to the likely residents at the proposed centre, 'It is not humane to hold them like this.'
Cllr Fulljames seconded the motion to reject the application, drawing attention among other matters to the likely traffic impact on nearby Blackthorn villagers. She also said 'The Army have a firing exercise ground that adjoins this site. What a location to put an immigration centre.'
Both councillors referred to the fact that they were reflecting the concerns of local residents.
The motion to reject the application was lost by 4 votes to 9, and a motion to accept it carried by 9 to 3.
After the meeting, one councillor said that with its purpose and location and barbed wire, the project reminded him of a concentration camp.
A Home Office spokesman said the decision over whether to develop the Yarl's Wood site, for which
permission was obtained in February, or the Piddington one would be made later this year. However, the
government has the option of developing both.
CABIRC will continue to oppose the building of the centre, with a major public meeting and by calling on
national organisations to take a more prominent role in opposition and in putting pressure on the government.
The coalition will also be keeping an eagle eye open to ensure that conditions attached to the approval, most of which concern matters relating to the environment, are satisfied.
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