RESIDENTS are tipping their tall hats to a 'Fight the Height' campaign in the hope the height of the West Way development will be reduced.

With just over a week left to comment on the latest plans for the development in Botley, West Way Community Concern is urging residents to speak out against the height of some of the buildings in the plans.

The tallest part of the scheme. facing the A34, will be a nine-storey block of one and two bedroom apartments and studios, and the 122-bedroom hotel will be seven-storeys high.

Doctor Mary Gill, co-chairwoman of the group, said the proposed apartment block, which would reach 32.2 metres, was far too high and needed to be reduced to 20 metres.

She said: "Physically it is out of character and the knock on effects is it is going to be bringing so many people to the area.

"It is an over-development, it is just too big."

Tomorrow residents will be gathering outside Cafe Aloha in the Square for a demonstration to show how tall the proposals will be.

Dr Gill said they would have rolls of paper they would lay out across the Square to show the relative heights of current buildings in the area with the new plans.

She added: "This is to get the message across to the residents this is not what we want and we need to do something about it.

"Existing buildings are only five storeys, maybe six, and are about 20 metres, so these new proposals are not in keeping with the character of Botley."

In January developer Mace submitted new plans for the site after an original application was thrown out in December 2014 by previous developer Doric.

If Vale of White Horse District Council's planning committee grants planning permission with no considerable conditions or revisions, Dr Gill said the group would be prepared to appeal the decision.

She added: "If they have sent it through exactly as it is, without asking for any substantive changes, yes we would challenge that decision.

"It would mean they have ignored all the issues associated with this application."

Huw Griffiths, development director at Mace, said: "Throughout the consultation we have always been clear that we need to keep some mass along the west of the site to make the scheme work.

"What West Way Community Concern fail to acknowledge is that through consultation we have already reduced the food store, enabled Elms Parade to be retained, removed the cinema and replaced it with much needed housing, retained convenience based retail and introduced a “standalone” community building for the people of Botley.

"Only one small element of the site extends to 9 storeys.

"The current scheme is a massive reduction on the previous Doric plans and we believe it will be a fantastic contribution to Botley."

Residents have until Thursday, April 14 to submit their comments to the Vale on the application.

For more information on the plans, search using application number: P16/V0246/FUL on the Vale's website.