A HOAX letter warning about a planned hostel for ex-drug addicts and criminals has caused concern.

People in Kidlington hit out at Cherwell District Council’s decision to limit the advertisement of planning applications after the hoax letter was sent around the village.

The letter was sent to residents of Bicester Road warning them of the future development – which was never on the table.

The district council decided to stop sending letters to homes near planning application sites earlier this year, saving an estimated £80,000 a year. The letters would inform residents of plans submitted and how they could comment on the application.

Parish councillor Chris Robins said: “A lot of residents were very worried.

“People are not being informed so it is very easy for rumours to start.”

A district council spokesman said the letter, sent in May, appeared to originate from the council and concerned an application made by Choice Care Group for the property at number 95, which was approved in July.

It wrongly implied the application to turn the property into a residential care home for people with learning difficulties would turn it into a hostel for former offenders or a rehab unit for drug users.

The council does put notices up at the site of all planning applications to replace the letters, publicises them on its website, and advertises in some newspapers.

Michael Gibbard, cabinet member for planning, said: “This letter has caused a great deal of concern. It’s not only misleading, it’s fraudulent.”

Police said they had no record of the letter but added it was probably not a criminal offence.

Earlier this year, Kidlington resident Steve Nicholls was surprised to discover a two-storey house with a double garage would be built behind his garden fence.

Mr Nicholls, of Warborough Crescent, said: “You can have an extension built near your house and you won’t find out about it until the builders move in.

“I don’t think putting something on the internet is enough.”

The district council said notices about planning applications appeared in the Bicester Advertiser and Banbury Guardian but stopped being published in The Oxford Times in April.

But Mr Robins said: “The Banbury and Bicester papers don’t cover Kidlington, and that is part of the grievance.”