A Government inquiry into plans to demolish a school opened today.

Oxfordshire County Council had agreed to allow developers Minns Estates Ltd to demolish Sandhills Primary School, in Delbush Avenue, Headington, Oxford, and to build 64 homes on a nearby ten-acre field.

In exchange, Minns agreed to build a new £2.6m school on the field site.

But residents formed a group called Save Our Sandhills to object to the plans.

They said they wanted their village protected and accused the county council of making deals with developers in order to ensure the provision of a new school building. The protest also has the backing of Risinghurst and Sandhills Parish Council. Parish councillor Paul Phipps told the inquiry: "We are very conscious of the fact that this planning application for housing on such a sensitive site would never have seen light of day if it were not for the fact that they were dangling a carrot of a new school."

The school governors and the cash-strapped county council want the scheme to go ahead because they say it would benefit the whole community.

Rodney Price-Lewis, representing the county council, said: "The new homes provide the funds for other benefits."

The inquiry is expected to last several days.

Story date: Tuesday 01 February

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