A FINAL decision on a contentious Oxford City Council bid to extend its Marsh Road depot will be made at a meeting tonight.

If accepted, the depot’s would expand onto land in Cowley Marsh Park, taking over a wildflower meadow and land which was formerly occupied by a children’s play area.

Nearly 150 people opposed the plan when it was proposed by the council earlier this year.

Many of those had successfully fought to stop a first expansion mooted in 2015. That was withdrawn by the authority because of huge public opposition.

But it filed another application this year because it said it has no alternative but to expand at the Marsh Road base.

The east area planning committee voted in favour of the application on August 2 – but 14 councillors demanded a rethink and tonight’s meeting.

Planning bosses have said such an expansion would never normally be allowed because it breaches a condition of building on protected green space.

They now say it should be given the go ahead because of the council’s exceptional circumstances and desperate need to expand its recycling facilities at that site.

It has said an extensive search has come to an end and that all other alternatives around the city have been exhausted.

The facility’s expansion would only be allowed by the council for five years – but an expansion to a car park would be a permanent addition.

Councillors agreed earlier this month the site would be returned to the park after five years.

The meeting will be held at Oxford Town Hall from 6pm.