OXFORD University's "parliament" has today voted against a bid to reduce the controversial Castle Mill student flats in height.

In the landmark ballot at the Sheldonian Theatre, dons and senior university figures voted down a motion to remove the top floor from the Roger Dudman Way buildings, which critics say loom unacceptably over Port Meadow.

The count was 210 for and 536 against.

However campaigners could call a postal ballot of all absent members, so today's vote may not be the final decision.

The Congregation is made up of 4,500 senior university figures, but the Sheldonian Theatre has a capacity of about 1,000. The theatre was packed, insiders said.

The motion had been put forward to the Congregation by TV historian and Professor of the History of the Church, Diarmaid MacCulloch and was backed by a group of heavyweight figures and the Save Port Meadow campaign.

Campaigners say the flats are a blight on the Oxford skyline.

The motion had been opposed by university management, which put the cost of removing a top storey from six of the eight buildings at £30m.

But campaigners of Save Port Meadow say it is the only way to reverse the impact of the blocks on the Oxford skyline.

If the motion had been passed, it would have been binding on the university.

University heads of department were said to have strongly encouraged staff to attend the vote, which it was claimed could go either way.

When the vote was called the gates of the theatre were shut.

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