ANY attempts to tear up a plan for thousands of new homes could 'put the future of Didcot's development at risk,' according to the town's new leadership.

Mocky Khan, who was elected leader of Didcot Town Council last month, has launched a bid to save South Oxfordshire District Council's local plan after the Lib Dems and Greens pledged to review it.

READ AGAIN: South Oxfordshire District Council accepts Local Plan

A motion expressing the town council's concern over recent developments will be discussed tonight with SODC being urged to continue as planned.

Proposed by Mr Khan and fellow councillor Axel Macdonald, the motion states: "DTC firmly believes that the local plan is beneficial for Didcot as it will provide funding for the infrastructure needed within the town.

"This will also benefit the surrounding areas, including the villages that look to Didcot for services, provide the protection from inappropriate planning applications and allow DTC to have a greater influence on the growth of Didcot.

"Therefore, DTC’s preference is to continue with the current submitted plan."

The authority's leadership is worried that any major amendments to the plan, which was submitted to the Government for examination in early April, would have a detrimental impact on the town.

Specifically, it fears, a recently agreed funding deal to build new roads in and around Didcot could be scuppered.

The Government awarded £218million for a new Culham bridge, a Clifton Hampden bypass, improvements to the A4130 from the Milton Interchange and a 'science bridge' in Didcot but the money could be lost, according to the motion.

A 'rainbow alliance' featuring the Green Party, Liberal Democrats, independent councillors and the Henley Residents' Group took over at SODC after the local elections last month.

One of the coalition's first actions was to set up a group to review the local plan.

READ AGAIN: South Oxfordshire councillors to review controversial Local Plan

Much of the land proposed for housing is currently part of Oxford's green belt and not building on this land was a key Green Party manifesto commitment.

Didcot has been allocated 6,503 homes in the plan as it stands.

Mr Khan fears that withdrawing it would lead to a rise is 'speculative' planning applications - where developers attempt to get inappropriate housing plans through.

If the motion passes tonight, Didcot Town Council will write to Sue Cooper, the new leader of SODC and chief executive Mark Stone, expressing concerns and demanding a greater say in the process.

The meeting starts at 7.30pm in the civic hall.