DISTRICT councillors have made the wrong decision over plans for the future of Bicester's housing according to a former planning committee chairman.

Billy Evans, former chairman of Cherwell District Council's south area planning committee, has accused councillors of "not having a brain in their heads" after they opted to build 1,000 houses at RAF Bicester and a further 500 at Gavray Drive, Langford Village.

He is urging people to make objections to the draft local plan before October 25, which is the last date observations can be made before it becomes the subject of a public inquiry next summer.

But Fred Blackwell, executive member for development, said: "The members of Bicester pursued it and got it through. I believe they know what's best for that area."

Originally councillors had agreed to build the homes on farmland between Bicester and Chesterton, known as the south west-option, but it was overturned earlier this year.

Mr Evans, who supports the south-west option, said: "Before this year's elections, I said in council that the decision to place so many houses on the airfield was the worst decision that Cherwell District Council has ever made. "The councillors who made that decision were completely wrong, they have not got a brain in their heads.

"Why? Because our professional officers' advice has always been that the houses should go to the south-west."

Mr Evans believes if housing is built at the airfield it would be a cramped development -- with 45 homes per 2.6 acres.

Mr Evans said: "It seems that the council is trying to hoodwink the public into thinking they have opted for a brownfield site in preference to a greenfield site in the south-west."

He believes if the south-west option was developed and the western by-pass completed, it would stop motorists using Chesterton as a short cut.