Disappointed councillors expressed their frustration at being forced to reject a bid for a £20m leisure complex in Bicester.

Cherwell District Council last night refused an application from developers London and Metropolitan to build a cinema, hotel and restaurant at the junction of Oxford Road and Middleton Stoney Road, just outside the town.

Councillors at a planning meeting were directed to reject the scheme by the Highways Agency, due to safety concerns about creating a new junction on the main A41 trunk road. They were told that if they voted to approve the leisure complex their decision would be null and void.

An amendment by Les Sibley emphasised councillors' support for the scheme, and stated that if the Highways Agency decision was removed, the council would approve it.

He reminded councillors that Bicester Chamber of Commerce had collected a petition of 5,000 signatures in favour of the complex from people in the area.

Maureen Hastings (Con), said: "The people who are going to suffer because of this are the young people. "It is another generation of young people who are going to be deprived of something sensible and useful to do in their spare time.

"A whole section are now going to enjoy their drugs and drink, which is the alternative."

John Hanna (Lab), said refusing the complex sent out the wrong message to potential developers who might want to invest in the area, particularly since the council had previously rejected another application by Unipart.

He said: "Probably 99 per cent of people in Bicester want this development to go ahead. The council doesn't have the money to provide leisure facilities costing £20m or £30m.

"We're hoping developers will come in and provide these complexes. I'm wondering after these refusals what applicants are going to say.

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