HALF of the councils involved in the landmark £215m Housing and Growth Deal for Oxfordshire have given the plan their backing.

Oxford City and West Oxfordshire councillors gave the plan unanimous backing at separate meetings held on Wednesday.

Vale of White Horse councillors also backed the plan, although its Liberal Democrat group leader Debby Hallett voted against accepting the Government money. The majority of her councillors abstained.

West Oxfordshire leader James Mills said he was very positive about the deal and that it would help his district and the wider county become an even more ‘successful part of UK plc’.

His deputy leader Toby Morris said: “If you don’t get any of [the £215m from the deal], you haven’t lost anything but you have got the key to the door for [future] funds.”

At the Vale council meeting in Wantage on Wednesday, a total of 25 councillors voted in favour, Ms Hallett was opposed and 10 councillors abstained.

At the meeting, Vale leader Matthew Barber said he was the most ‘cautious’ of the six councils leaders involved, but the authority should still accept the deal.

Oxfordshire County and Cherwell councils are expected to sign it off later.

South Oxfordshire council held its meeting to sign off the deal last night.