Residents of Piddington have vowed that the “war isn’t over yet” as they continue to oppose plans to accommodate 1,256 single male migrants near their Oxfordshire village.
Angela Rayner approved the controversial proposals for a migrant camp at MoD Bicester last night, despite Piddington holding a symbolic vote to leave the UK in protest.
Residents had argued that the scheme was “completely inappropriate” and would “overwhelm” Piddington, which has just 350 inhabitants, including 46 children.
However, villagers said they had “always known” the site would ultimately be approved, accusing the Government of effectively “submitting and approving its own application”.
Joe Marshall, a Piddington parish councillor, told BBC Newsnight: “The quality of the application is shocking. The discrepancies are all over the place.
“They have not properly followed the planning procedure. But regardless of that, we always knew it was going to be approved.
“There are 28 conditions that have to be discharged, all of them effectively relating to the viability of the site. So this war isn’t over yet.”
Mr Marshall also questioned whether “we live in a democracy”, given the scale of opposition to the proposed migrant camp in Piddington.
“I think this is the kind of development that nobody would want imposed on their local area,” he said.
“And it is not simply a NIMBY issue. It is a wider concern: the population would be quadrupled, residents would be exposed to emissions from generators and the proposal could lead to more road collisions.”
Tim McNally, 60, chair of Piddington Parish Council, supported a symbolic referendum on the tiny Oxfordshire village leaving the UK
Angela Rayner has approved plans for the controversial migrant camp despite the village’s symbolic vote
The decision can now be challenged in the courts during a six-week legal window.
Tim McNally, chairman of the parish council, said villagers would take “many actions” and that ministers should be “absolutely” prepared for a legal challenge.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “Last night, (Prime Minister) Andy Burnham was on a podium talking about violence and sexual violence against women, and saying it was the responsibility of the media industry to manage it.
“But the reality is that this is exactly what the Government is doing to us here.”
Asked how the village would respond, he said: “There are going to be many actions, as you will see. We will disclose them as we move forward.
“Today is a day for reflection, and we will decide where to go from here. But I will say that the Hillsborough Law exists for a reason, and we are going to apply it.”
Asked whether ministers should expect a legal challenge, he replied: “Absolutely, absolutely.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described the plans as a “betrayal of the women of Piddington” and said they were “emblematic of Labour’s disregard for the law and the safety of women and girls”.
Writing on social media, she said: “When I visited Piddington, I met a village terrified by what was about to arrive on its doorstep.
“The Government said it was listening. Instead, it has completely ignored this community’s concerns.”
Residents unveiled a “Principality of Piddington” sign after the village voted overwhelmingly in a symbolic September “referendum” to become an independent state
Residents were angered by proposals to house 1,250 men at a migrant camp near the small Oxfordshire village
The Oxfordshire village has a population of only 350. The proposed migrant camp would be located at nearby Bicester barracks
The approval of the Piddington site follows comments from Prime Minister Andy Burnham that people in more affluent parts of the UK must “play their part” in accommodating asylum seekers.
The Government has pledged to end the use of hotels for migrants and instead use former military sites to provide accommodation.
Two such sites are already operating: Wethersfield in Essex and Crowborough in East Sussex.
In addition to MoD Bicester, sites at Barnham in Norfolk and Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire have also been identified.
Decisions on those locations are understood not to have been made.
A Home Office spokesman said: “Planning permission allows us to continue progressing the proposed use of MoD Bicester.
“However, a final decision to proceed has not yet been taken.
“The Government is working towards a fairer distribution of asylum accommodation across the country, saving more than £1 billion in costs since the election.
“This includes closing all asylum hotels.”