APPALLED campaigners have called for a ‘genuine Garden Town’ in Bicester after residents say they’ve been let down by more warehouse plans.

Residents have hit out at the decision by Cherwell District Council to approve plans for up to 684,600 sq ft of warehouses – the size of more than eight football pitches.

Langford Village Community Associations has said authorities need to put a stop to Bicester becoming a 'warehouse town' over concerns the new site off the A41 only plans to provide 88 jobs initially.

Highways and development team member Carole Hetherington said: “The district council has let Bicester down badly yet again, by passing the plans for Symmetry Park.

“A huge warehouse development on the A41 which will deliver just 88 jobs initially and fall far short of the 1,200 that the Local Plan states.

“There has been a public outcry against this development and we as LVCA the elected representatives of Langford Village’s 4,500 residents are appalled at the decision, especially as CDC planning committee has only recently approved planning permission for 520,000 sq ft of warehousing on Skimmingdish Lane surrounding the newly built care home.

“We wish to see a genuine Garden Town not a Warehouse Town.

“The policy of dumping warehouses around Bicester does nothing for the environment or good quality jobs enabling the workforce to afford to live in the town.”

Plans, submitted by Warren Reid, were approved for two warehouses covering 198,000 sq ft plus outline planning permission for four more.

This also includes a car park and sewage treatment plant.

The district council says the site Symmetry Park in south east Bicester will bring investment into the town and eventually 1,000 jobs.

Cherwell District council lead member for planning Colin Clarke said: "This site forms part of an area already set aside in the local plan for creating the jobs that will support Bicester's growing economy and housing stock.

"Cherwell's location makes it very popular with employers in the logistics sector, and the provisions in this development will bring further growth and sustainability to the town's economy.

"However, we have a responsibility to ensure that prosperity and liveability go hand in hand, meaning large employment sites should be constructed in a sensitive way that fits with planning policy.

"I am pleased that through our work with the applicant we have arrived at a proposal which has space for the landscaping needed to mitigate the visual appearance of the site to people living nearby or travelling past the development."

The plans had come forward to the council previously but had been recommended for refusal.

Developers revised its plans and reduced the height of buildings and created more landscaping to address the warehouses impact on the area.