Protesters against a 'virtual quarry' today took action to stop workmen entering the site.

Campaigners claim Railtrack is defying Oxfordshire County Council and stepping up work to create a 200,000-tonne ballast stockpile at Hinksey Sidings, south Oxford.

More than 20 protesters held a peaceful protest at the entrance of the site, off Abingdon Road, to prevent workmen getting in, while some stood in front of a digger.

The group, who held up a banner with the words 'Stop the quarry', claimed to have significantly delayed the work. Protester Jane Low, of Norreys Avenue, south Oxford, who was at the protest, said: "We stopped them for about two hours. I'd say we obstructed them in a dignified way." Suzy Middleton-Heath, of the Stop the Quarry Campaign, said: "Oxford residents have been forced to take radical steps to stop Railtrack. Railtrack has continued work on a virtual quarry site despite the county council resolving to issue an Article Four Direction which would stop them.

"Local people will not allow Railtrack's bullying and arrogant behaviour to win the day. We have to stop this violation of the environment in which we live."

County councillors last week issued an Article Four Direction against Railtrack, which would force it to apply for planning permission for the ballast stockpile. But the direction must be approved by Environment Secretary John Prescott - a process which could take several weeks.

Campaigners suspect Railtrack is trying to construct the stockpile before the direction is in place. Chris Cousins, principal planning officer for Oxfordshire County Council, said: "Railtrack certainly seems to be aiming to go ahead quickly with the development. We've written to ask it to stop because it's our view that the more Railtrack alienates local and national opinion over this, the greater the likelihood is that Railtrack will end up finding that the rights it has are removed or curtailed."

He said that even if the stockpile was created, planning permission could ultimately be refused for the operation of the site.

Railtrack said the Hinksey site, which is close to houses and Hinksey Park, is the only suitable location in the region to stockpile ballast, used to lay base for tracks. A spokesman said: "We are doing preparatory works. What we're doing is some work to do with electricity and water supply so we can have a dust irrigation system."

Asked why Railtrack did't wait until Mr Prescott's decision, she said the ballast scheme was in the programme and had been planned well in advance. If work did not start now, she said, it would jeopardise major investment in track improvements in the Thames Valley. The ballast is used to provide bedding for the track.

She said: "If we had held to the letter of the law, we could have gone ahead months ago."

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