Station poses Green Belt threat, say campaigners (From Oxford Mail)

Station poses Green Belt threat, say campaigners

11:34am Thursday 11th March 2010 in

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A NEW railway station, a 1,000-space car park and a waste recycling plant are posing a threat to the Green Belt north of Oxford, campaigners claim.

Planning permission has been given to a 1.6-hectare waste centre between Oxford and Kidlington on the grain silo site alongside the A34.

However, a public inquiry in the summer will also consider the Chiltern Railways plan for a new station and car park at the same site, off Banbury Road.

It is thought highly unlikely both schemes could be squeezed on to the same site.

But locals fear both schemes could go ahead — with the waste plant and an existing aggregate dump moved to adjacent farmland.

And they are warning that the development could risk a building “free for all” in the narrow gap of Green Belt land separating Oxford and Kidlington.

Ian Scargill, chairman of Oxford Green Belt Network, was shocked that County Hall had granted Grundon Waste permission to build a plant expected to handle up to 150,00 tonnes of waste a year.

He said the decision comes only weeks after Chiltern Railways’ application to the Government’s Transport Secretary to build a station and car park.

The firm wants to build on the same site near the park-and-ride as part of a £250m package to create a new route from Oxford to London Marylebone.

The new station proposed on the 1940s grain silo site will serve Kidlington, Yarnton, North Oxford and the surrounding area.

A spokesman for Chiltern Railways said: “We believe that a station is a better option for this site. There is widespread support from the local community for this option.”

Chiltern Railways proposals will go before Cherwell District Council today. But the final decision will be made by the Transport Secretary.

Councillors are being warned that the existing aggregate dump would have to be relocated on to farmland to the north.

The report to councillors concludes: “The new parkway station with associated car parking is inappropriate development which will have an impact upon the character, appearance and openness of the Green Belt.

“However, it is considered that the harm is outweighed by the very special circumstances... the proposal will increase the Rail capacity along the Birmingham to London rail corridor, benefiting both passengers and freight.”

County Hall yesterday defended its decision to approve the waste centre on the site earmarked for the station.

Spokesman Owen Morton said: “The council’s planning and regulation committee considered the merits of the waste facility proposal very carefully, with the benefit of a full officer report explaining the reasons why there were very special circumstances for permitting this development in this green belt location.”