VILLAGERS have branded a decision to back a 5,000 home eco-town on their doorstep a “stitch up”.

They said Cherwell District Council’s executive had already made up its mind before Monday’s meeting and the debate was just a box ticking exercise.

The district council backed its own plan — the so-called North West Bicester option — as a rival to the Weston Otmoor plans for 15,000 homes near Weston-on-the-Green.

But Bucknell villagers say the new plan will blight their area.

District councillor Catherine Fulljames, who represents Caversfield, Bucknell and Ardley, said: “Villagers came away quite disgusted. They are very angry— and even more angry because the decision was made before councillors went in. They didn’t listen to anyone and didn’t answer our questions.”

Patrick Woodrow, of Bucknell, said: “I’m generally dismayed, but not totally surprised.

“It was very questionable what the meeting was for.

“They listened to what we said, but it was going to get passed anyway. It was a box ticking exercise.

“We are being used as a pawn — Bucknell is being sacrificed so the Government can’t have its way with Weston Otmoor.”

Bob Dixon, also of Bucknell, said: “The executive sat and pretended to listen to the sometimes impassioned pleas and reasoning from the audience. It quickly became apparent that the members had the whole thing stitched up long before the meeting even opened.”

Chairman of Bucknell Parish Council John Kightley said: “I just feel it was handled extremely badly and not in a democratic way at all.”

Cherwell leader Barry Wood said: “Discussion documents for the proposal went public on March 2 and since then we have met a wide range of individuals to hear their informal views.

“Members of the executive do not take decisions lightly and they will have considered the implications before casting their vote.

“It was a unanimous decision and I’m satisfied it was made in a democratic way.”

Cherwell proposes to build homes, businesses, schools and a bio plant on the 345 hectare site — which is the size of 383 football pitches.

It claims Weston Otmoor would damage Bicester and Kidlington, while its own plan would benefit Bicester.

Cherwell still faces two big hurdles — landowners do not want to sell and it does do not have an interested developer.

bicester@oxfordmail.co.uk