A TEMPORARY road for HGVs and trucks during the construction of 58 homes could become a permanent fixture to build a further 1,500, campaigners fear.

The route, for vehicles working on a Pye Homes development between Woodstock and Shipton on Cherwell, was approved by Cherwell District Council’s planning committee. The road has planning permission for two years and is to be built on land owned by Blenheim Palace at Shipton Road in Shipton on Cherwell.

But opponents have said the road will join a dangerous bend in the Shipton to Woodstock road and will ruin the rural character of the area. They also fear the road could remain permanently and be used to build the Woodstock East development for 1,500 homes.

Woodstock town councillor Sharone Parnes said: “I was very disappointed it was approved. I was surprised they just accepted the arguments in favour of it.

“It’s highly contentious. It hasn’t been well thought out.”

But Stuart Wright, of Pye Homes, said the road was needed to avoid taking construction traffic through residential areas. He said: “We proposed the temporary construction road as a alternative to existing residential roads. Construction can be, by its nature, disruptive however we always try to reduce this where we can.

“We’re working with officers to ensure it has as little impact as possible and that the land can be restored to its original state once construction has finished.”

Oxfordshire County Council leader Ian Hudspeth had also registered his concerns with Cherwell, saying he too feared the road could become permanent.