THE future of Seacourt Park-and-Ride is in the hands of the Government following a call for it to be considered by Oxford MP Layla Moran.

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has confirmed a request has been received and was being considered.

Oxford City Council wants to expand the park-and-ride to help cope with extra demand due to the Westgate Centre and councillors gave planning permission last month.

However, those against the scheme say it is not needed and will increase the likelihood of flooding.

Ms Moran said yesterday: "I have strongly supported the call-in of the decision to expand the Seacourt Park-and-Ride site into the flood plain.

"The decision runs counter to the National Planning Policy Framework which says that developments should not take place where they will increase the likelihood of flooding.

"Many residents in West Oxford are, rightly, very concerned about the city council's decision and I will continue to fight on their behalf."

Alliance chairman Peter Rawcliffe explained his group had worked with the Lib Dem MP for Oxford West and Abingdon on the request in the autumn.

After Oxford City Council's Planning Review Committee re-approved the plans on January 10, the review request was activated.

A decision on whether to hold an official inquiry into the decision is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Mr Rawcliffe said he was confidently looking forward to the announcement.

He said: "I would certainly think this application could set a major precedent.

"The council gave themselves permission but it's still very much up for grabs.

"The outcome of that meeting wasn't surprising but in a way it was encouraging the vote was as close as it was."

The Secretary of State – in this case Sajid Javid – is allowed to call a planning decision in if it 'conflicts with national policy in important ways' or is 'nationally significant'.

In this case, Oxford Flood Alliance and Layla Moran argue the field where Oxford City Council wants to expand the park-and-ride is a) in the Oxford Green Belt, and b) in the functional flood plain.

The National Planning Policy Framework says there should be no development in either of those areas unless there are 'exceptional circumstances'.

Council officers argued that there was indeed an exceptional need for the 685 extra car park spaces to help cater for the growing number of cars driving into the city.

They also pointed out that the Environment Agency made no objection on the grounds of flood risk and Oxfordshire County Council, the roads authority, made no objections on highways grounds.

At the Planning Review Committee on January 10, councillors agreed with this view, with Nigel Chapman concluding: "I am convinced of the public benefit of expanding this site and I'm convinced that everything that is reasonable that we could expect to be done has been done."

Asked for a comment yesterday, city council spokesman Mish Tullar said: "The decision on whether or not to call in the Seacourt Park & Ride planning decision for further review is a matter for the Secretary of State."

Colin Cook, one of the councillors who spoke vociferously against the expansion, welcomed the news a Government call-in was being considered.

He said: "If the Secretary of State does call it in I would be very glad the application would receive further scrutiny given the dangerous precedent it might set for green belt use."

Oxford City Council has already spent more than £411,000 drawing up plans to expand the 794-space car park onto the 4.3ha field which it owns immediately to the east.

The council says the £4m expansion is essential as 'Botley Road has serious traffic congestion', and Seacourt is 'often completely full, with regular complaints from users'.