CAMPAIGNERS in the centre of Didcot have rallied to fight two multi-million pound developments.

Amended plans for the £50m phase two development of the Orchard Centre have been submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council.

And a proposal for a major redevelopment of land opposite Didcot Parkway, known as Didcot Gateway, has also been submitted to the council.

Labour town councillor Margaret Davies said residents felt they were being “steamrollered” by the proposals.

She added: “SODC needs to explain better how these changes will take place.”

The Orchard Centre proposals by centre owner Hammerson include three new public spaces alongside the plans for 24 new shops, including an M&S food store, and six new restaurants, to create an estimated 500 new jobs for the town.

But the scheme still features a new bus route from Didcot Parkway station to the Orchard Centre via Station Road, and many of the street’s residents remain unhappy.

Station Road resident Jenny Wilson, a product manager who works at Milton Park, has launched a petition against re-routing buses via Station Road.

She has written a letter to SODC leader John Cotton opposing the bus route plan.

She said: “In February a letter was sent to roughly 30 households and businesses along Station Road, next to existing Orchard Centre.

“The letter stated the plans were now to run buses through the existing pedestrian zone instead of using any of the pre-existing traffic infrastructure.

“The amended plans suggest widening Station Road so that buses can go in both directions but Station Road will not be wide enough for that.”

Last month county council highways officers expressed concern about the Station Road proposals.

Matthew Evans, a spokesman for GL Hearn, on behalf of Hammerson, said the three new public spaces would include one suitable for markets and other large community events.

Russell Beresford, development manager for Hammerson, said: “We believe the project will deliver significant benefits for Didcot by rejuvenating the town centre.”

Residents in Lydalls Road have expressed concern about the Didcot Gateway plans.