MORE than 500 people have signed a petition against the potential housing that could be built on the outskirts of Oxford to counteract the city's unmet housing needs.

Villagers in Begbroke, Yarnton and Kidlington fear the thousands of homes recommended for their rolling countryside would infringe on Green Belt land.

It comes as the district north of the city is proposed to take on an extra 4,400 homes as part of its share of Oxford's 15,000 homes needed, based on findings from the Oxfordshire Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA).

Spokesman for Begbroke and Yarnton Green Belt Campaign Giles Lewis said: "Ever since the Cherwell District Council in November last year published its Options for housing development around Begbroke, Yarnton and Kidlington, residents in those three villages have been protesting against the proposals.

"Decisions are due this month as to where exactly the houses will be built but almost all the options would result in the infringement of Green Belt land."

The petition was set up by villagers in a bid to sway the council decision on where to building the recommended 4,400 homes in the district.

Decisions are expected this month and campaigners handed over the petition, signed by 501 villagers opposing plans, to parliamentary candidate Nicola Blackwood last week.

The petition lays out three main objections to the plans and calls on Ms Blackwood to 'represent strong opposition to development in the green belt in line with her party's manifesto commitment'.

It adds that plans should show Oxford City Council and Cherwell District Council have 'fully examined all other reasonable options' and insist no development to be allowed on green fields bordering historic villages.

Mr Lewis added: "The Begbroke and Yarnton Green Belt Campaign was set up by local residents to campaign against the council`s plans to allow 4,400 houses to be built to the north of the city to help with Oxford city`s unmet housing needs.

"The petition urged Nicola Blackwood to support the protection of land around the historic villages of Begbroke and Yarnton, and to represent to the district council their residents` strong opposition to development on the Green Belt."

In September last year the Oxfordshire Growth Board published the apportionment of the unmet housing need as Cherwell District Council to take on 4,400 homes, Oxford City Council 550 homes, South Oxfordshire District Council 4,950 homes, Vale of White Horse District Council 2,200 homes, West Oxfordshire District Council 2,750 homes.