A CONTROVERSIAL plan to extend a depot onto a park will finally go ahead after councillors again gave their approval.  

Oxford City Council will now use part of Cowley Marsh Park for five years, despite local opposition. 

Residents filled the public gallery at Oxford Town Hall in an effort to stop the development, less than two years after a similar proposal was ditched for being unpopular. 

The council originally got approval from the east area planning committee on August 2 to extend the site but 14 councillors said they wanted the decision reviewed.

Opponents said they were worried an application would simply be superseded by a new one and would affect green space for residents, contrary to the authority's own policies.

But the council said it needed to extend the depot to increase its bin storage there. Last year 5,251 new bins were delivered to residents.

A plan to extend a car park next to the park was also approved with the application.

The council's planning review committee approved it again, six members to one.