Residents and councillors are fighting plans to set up travellers' sites on the outskirts of Oxford, write Karen Rosine and Mark Templeton.

Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council are considering setting up 14 temporary stopping places for travellers.

Now people living nearby are gearing up to oppose the sites, which would run for an experimental 12 months.

Kennington residents - who objected strongly to proposals in the 1970s and 80s for a permanent gypsy site in their village - are determined to do battle again.

Parish council clerk George Ross said: "Yet again the important Green belt area between the city and the parish is under consideration for unacceptable development." The trial scheme aims to provide travellers with basic facilities where they can stay for a short time before moving on.

The move is seen as a way of stopping travellers and gypsies setting up temporary encampments such as those seen at Wolvercote, Wheatley and along the Oxford ring road.

The councils are considering two areas in Botley Road, two in Kennington Road, two in the Barton/Northern Bypass area, two in Marsh Lane, and single sites at Godstow Road, Wolvercote, Almonds Farm, Elsfield Way, Abingdon Road near the Rivermead Rehabilitation Centre, Horspath and at Tews Ground in Risinghurst.

Oxford west ward councillor Susanna Pressel, who is opposing the Botley sites, called for "thorough, careful and sensitive" public consultation to be carried out."

Story date: Wednesday 01 March

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