Eco-town warriors stage protest (From Oxford Mail)

Eco-town warriors stage protest

5:24pm Tuesday 17th June 2008 in

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Protesters led by the father of tennis star Tim Henman held a demonstration outside County Hall in Oxford today to fight plans for a giant eco-town near Weston-on-the-Green.

About 20 protesters from the campaign group Weston Front, including chairman Tony Henman, brandished placards to voice their opposition to the Weston Otmoor development that could see up to 15,000 homes built on 800 acres of farmland near the village, close to the A34/M40 junction.

The Oxfordshire eco-town is on a national shortlist of fifteen drawn up by the Government.

Mr Henman was among three campaigners who addressed county councillors to outline the objections of residents from 15 towns and villages including Bicester and Kidlington.

Mr Henman said: "These homes could bring an additional 25,000 new cars to the A34/M40, which is already heavily congested. We are not against new homes but this is not the right site."

The campaign group is urging people to join a protest rally at Weston-on-the-Green on Sunday.

The county council's cabinet will decide whether to officially support or oppose the proposals at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Weston Front protesters are also planning to join other eco-town campaign groups for a demonstration outside the House of Commons on Monday, June 30.