THE start of a public inquiry into a controversial road scheme in Witney was labelled a “fiasco”.

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

But it was adjourned after around 150 people attempted to get into to the hall, which only had room for about 55.

The inquiry resumed on Thursdayat the larger Methodist Church, in High Street, Witney.

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 for the inquiry.

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 that it is available at this very late stage.”

David Condon, chairman of the Witney branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), 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 Rodney Rose, county council cabinet member for transport, said: “It was not really a fiasco.”

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

He said the inquiry had originally been due to take place in July, but that campaigners against the scheme had asked for it to be deferred.

He added: “We scoured the whole of Witney and this was the only venue we could come up with.”

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

Mr Rose said other public meetings, including those of the county council, used similar overflow rooms, but added: “I respect their wishes.”

Oxfordshire County Council said it was required to find a location that could be used uninterrupted for the length of the inquiry and that Eynsham Hall was the closest that met the criteria.

The council had provided free buses from Witney to the hall.

Inspector Stephen Roscoe explained that now the inquiry was open he was able to change the location. He told the inquiry: “I can adjourn and resume, as long as I give you the information as to where and when it will take place.”