The start of a public inquiry into a controversial link road scheme was last night branded a “fiasco” as the hearing was postponed minutes after it had started.

The public inquiry into the compulsory purchase of land for the Cogges Link Road, in Witney, was due to start yesterday at Eynsham Hall, North Leigh.

But it was abandoned after about 150 people attempted to get into the inquiry, which was being held in a room with a capacity of just 55.

The building did have an overflow room, where people were able to listen to the proceedings, but many refused to use it because they could not see what was happening.

The inquiry will now start again at the larger Methodist Church, in High Street, Witney, tomorrow at 10am.

Oxfordshire County Council, which hopes to be granted permission to purchase the land and build the road, said it had done its best to find the best venue possible.

It had laid on free buses from Witney to the hall following criticism proceedings would not be accessible to people without cars.

But James Mawle, who owns land needed for the road and is against the scheme, said: “It is a fiasco. Clearly, the Methodist Hall was the right place to hold it in the first place and we are just very lucky it is available at this very late stage.”

David Condon, chairman of the Witney branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), pictured, said: “Oxfordshire County Council has made a serious misjudgment regarding the choice of venue.

“This is a waste of public money and a waste of the public’s time.

“The choice for the replacement is an ideal venue, and one has to question why the county council chose such a remote venue with such inadequate facilities.”

But councillor Rodney Rose, county council cabinet member for transport, insisted: “It is not really a fiasco.”

He said it had been the council’s intention to hold the event at Witney Lakes Resort, but it had not been available.

Mr Rose added: “We scoured the whole of Witney and (the hall) was the only venue we could come up with.”

The county council said it had been required to find a venue which could be used uninterrupted for the length of the inquiry.

Last night it said Eynsham Hall was the closest facility which met the criteria.

Inspector Stephen Roscoe told yesterday’s hearing: “Because the inquiry is open now, I can adjourn and resume, as long as I give you the information as to where and when it will take place.”