IT'S difficult to imagine but within a stone's throw of the bars and restaurants that make up Oxford's busy Cowley Road, there exists an ancient haven of rural tranquillity complete with its own roaming deer, writes Mark Templeton.

The deer live in Oriel Wood, along with countless foxes, pheasants, bats and owls virtually alongside one of Oxford's busiest areas.

But their existence is under threat, according to campaigners who were today continuing their fight to stop student accommodation being built nearby.

The controversial plans by Cherwell Housing Trust would see rooms for 211 Oxford Brookes and Oxford University students on the Oriel College playing fields site, which lies next to the conservation area.

The city council threw out the scheme last year, but the trust launched an appeal which starts today with a public inquiry at Oxford Town Hall. Residents say plans to build on the college's former tennis courts would drive the wildlife away. They claim the deer can regularly be seen at the boundary to the playing fields.

They say the building work and rowdy students would see an end to the wildlife oasis.

One of the campaigners, Mark Schyrr, of the Divinity Road Residents' Association, said: "It is hard to believe that this site exists just off the Cowley Road and that's all the more reason we should go out of our way to protect it.

"We've been criticised for being anti-student but that is certainly not the case. In fact, I moved to the area because of its mixture of people.

"But very soon we will have a 50 per cent student population in this area and that is far too much. We believe having so many students in one area will take away some of the community spirit that has existed." Another resident, who did not wish to be named, warned that it was the wood's animals that would be the real losers if the scheme went ahead.

He said: "Animals can live with pollution and most other things we throw at them but the one thing they do need is peace and quiet.

"No matter what assurances we have, you can't really expect students to not be rowdy occasionally and the disruption from any building work would also drive the animals away.

"There have been deer in the wood for more than 15 years and this development seriously jeopardises their stability."

Another fear campaigners have is over the size of the development. They claim it is simply too big and would also impact upon listed buildings in the area, namely Bartlemas House, built in the 12th century as a hospital for lepers. They also say increased traffic would lead to even more congestion in an already busy area.

But James Offen, estates bursar at Oriel College, said there was a growing need for student accommodation.

He refused to reveal how much the land would be sold to the housing trust for if it wins its planning appeal.

Mr Offen said: "Cherwell Housing Trust has acquired the land but the sale only goes through once planning permission is granted and therefore the college is not directly involved with this issue.

"Originally there were eight tennis courts on the land which have not been used for some time. If the sale goes through then we would build new courts for students elsewhere on our land.

"We are aware of deer living in the woodland but to our knowledge they do not come down as far the courts." The planning inspector is expected to sit through three days of submissions from residents and the trust.

Cherwell Housing Trust has also submitted a smaller application for 182 rooms and will push ahead with the scheme if it loses its appeal.

Aidan Kelly, Business Development Manager with the housing trust said: "We believe the scheme will be beneficial to Oxford and look forward to putting our case forward at the public inquiry."

Story date: Tuesday 15 February

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