RESIDENTS are being asked to contribute to a wish list of facilities for Bicester’s 5,000-home eco settlement.

Cherwell District Council, Oxfordshire county and Bicester town councils, NHS Oxfordshire, the Environment Agency, the Homes and Communities Agency and Bicester Vision have all had their say.

Now it’s the chance for residents to come up with ideas to help shape the future of the 850-acre development.

Already on the list is a theatre with restaurant, stadium and sports facilities, and new cemetery site for the town.

Now an online consultation is asking residents if they agree with the vision and what they think should be included as well as what they think is important for Bicester in terms of community, economy, transport and the environment.

Cherwell leader Barry Wood said: “This document gives a clear view of how all of these organisations view the future of Bicester.

“Our plan is to create a town which will be the envy of the rest of the country while remaining sustainable for future generations.

“And we welcome any constructive comment which might enhance our plans and help us provide the best possible result for the town.”

But district councillor Catherine Fulljames, whose ward covers the planned eco settlement, is sceptical.

She said: “I am all for consultation provided what comes out of it is used and not ignored. It also costs a lot of money.

“I am still not convinced that the people of Bicester know what is going to happen to Bicester.

“Bicester will be as big as Banbury, if not bigger and when you have to accommodate that number of people you have to provide an enormous amount of facilities.”

She compared shopping facilities in both towns and pointed out the town centre development will not bring large department stores.

Mrs Fulljames also has concerns over the size of the eco development, and the road infrastructure.

She added: “My obvious priority is the inadequate road network and that needs an enormous injection of resources and knowledge to overcome a problem now, and not when we have all these additional cars.”

Cherwell’s plan for the eco development is that it would be self-sustaining, use renewable energy for their power needs, and that construction materials could include recycled bottles.

It wants the site to produce 5,000 jobs, for all building to be zero carbon and residents would be expected to reduce car use by 50 per cent by walking, cycling or using public transport.

The consultation opened last Monday and runs until Friday, 1 October.

To take part view cherwell.gov.uk/ecotowns