RESIDENTS said a proposed garden village should be built elsewhere in the county at the first of three public consultations.

Plans for the 2,200-home development, set to be built north of the A40 near Eynsham, were on display at St Leonard’s Church Hall, Eynsham on Thursday.

The garden village will have its own cultural, recreation and shopping facilities, with potential developments including a campus-style science park.

Representatives from West Oxfordshire District Council were at the exhibition to answer questions on key issues such as transport, housing, jobs and environment.

Several residents commented on the garden village with many, such as Maureen McCreadie, unconvinced the area needs the new development.

She said: “I think garden villages sound wonderful but I don’t think it benefits the community.

“It’s always been stated it’s in overflow for Oxford city but as far as I’m concerned it can stay the other side of the A40.”

Colin Dingwall, from Crawley, also believed new housing was unnecessary.

He said: “This is to satisfy Oxfordshire, not Eynsham.

“They’ve got three park-and-rides and they see all the cars and say it’s full - why can’t they build 10 storeys of flats above these?

“It shouldn’t happen here, it should be built in Oxford.”

The consultation is part of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds Garden Village Area Action Plan, which is the next step in West Oxfordshire District Council’s Local Plan.

Andrew Thomson, planning policy officer at West Oxfordshire District Council, said the exhibition was a chance for residents to ensure the village satisfied their concerns.

He said: “Having an Area Action Plan is a real opportunity for people to shape how the development will look and feel.

“The idea is that people who are interested have the chance to comment on specific areas of the plan.

“It’s about providing the opportunity to speak to the district council in person.and it’s clear that there are a lot of people interested.

“We want it to be a quality place that stands the test of time.”

Eynsham parish councillor Richard Andrews admitted he was unconvinced by the development but believes the district council has given it a good chance of success.

He said: “There are two questions - whether it should be here and whether it’s needed, which I think is debatable.

“But I think they’ve done a really good job - the Area Action Plan means there’s some chance of it being built for public good rather than the landowners.”

Residents have previously claimed the new homes will add 5,000 extra cars to surrounding roads, including the A40.

The garden village would be built alongside a planned £315m upgrade to the road, with a park and ride at Eynsham a possibility.

Mrs McCreadie was doubtful improvements to the road would significantly help the congested road.

She said: “You can put in a bus lane but where is it going to go? A park and ride is no good to those people.

“So many people use cars these days and I don’t see that a park and ride will reduce the traffic in a new garden village.”

The consultation stage is open until August 3 and will be taken into account ahead of further consultation in the autumn.

Friday sees the second consultation at Hanborough Village Pavilion & Village Hall, with the final consultation back at St Leonard’s Church Hall on Monday July 9.

Both will open from 2pm to 8pm.