HUNDREDS of people formed a human chain in Botley to demonstrate residents’ opposition to the planned £100m West Way development.

More than 750 people carrying red balloons stood in a line from Field House sheltered housing to the junction of Westminster Way to illustrate how wide the new shopping centre would be.

They then released helium balloons tied to an arrow, allowing it to rise 27 metres to show the height of the proposed eight storey building.

Chris Church, co-chairman of West Way Community Concern, said: “This shows the world how much people care about their centre and community. They care about the future of Botley and I’m delighted that we have shown a really strong and united community.

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“We demonstrated how huge and out of scale this development will be – we want to see change here but these plans are absolutely wrong for Botley.”

Doric Properties has applied to Vale of White Horse District Council to knock down the West Way shopping centre, Elms Parade shops, Field House sheltered housing and the Elms Court office block.

It would then build a supermarket, cinema, gym, health centre, shops, 50 flats and 525 student rooms.

A marching jazz band and morris dancers performed in the West Way precinct on Saturday to attract the crowds. Campaigners held up banners with slogans such as “Hands off our homes” and warnings about increased traffic.

In a speech, Mr Church challenged district council leader Matthew Barber to “admit that the council was wrong to support this development”.

He claimed more than 1,000 people had formally objected.

Oxford West and Abingdon MP Nicola Blackwood also told the crowd: “We’re fighting to keep our Botley shopping centre and the asset that matters to us. We want to have open spaces and still have our sense of community right here.”

Protestors then collected 500 red balloons from St Peter and St Paul’s Church, which would be surrounded by the development and its vicarage demolished, and formed a line along West Way.

The Rev Clare Sykes, vicar of the church, said: “The demonstration showed just how much feeling there is about this development.

“It’s an inappropriately sized development for the area and will have a big impact on the church if it goes ahead.”

Huw Griffiths, development director of Doric’s partner in the scheme, Mace, said: “Doric and Mace have answered calls made by the Vale of White Horse District Council and local residents to propose an exciting and vibrant development that will bring great benefits to those living and working in the area.

“We have continued to receive supportive letters speaking up for the self-described silent majority and believe that continuous engagement, most recently on our major design review, has helped to progress Doric’s proposals to become a scheme that the whole of the west of Oxford community can be proud of.”

  • People have until today to comment on the plans submitted by Doric to the Vale of White Horse District Council. To have your say, visit whitehorsedc.gov.uk and search the planning reference P/13V2733/FUL.


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