RESIDENTS in an Oxfordshire village strongly oppose plans to build a multi-million pound resort due to the ‘horrendous’ impact it will have on traffic in the area.

American company Great Wolf Resorts (GWR) has drawn up proposals to build an indoor water park and hotel in Chesterton, near Bicester.

It would be called Great Wolf Lodge and sit on an18.6-hectare site next to Bicester Hotel Golf and Spa which lies next to the M40.

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But people who live in Chesterton believe the facility will ‘decimate’ the village because of the influx of cars that may rat-run through its country roads.

At the company's exhibition on Thursday in Chesterton, a resident who has asked not to be named, said: “It’s absolutely huge for the area. It’s a small rural area with small rural roads and there are no plans to improve the road infrastructure. It’s going to decimate the countryside that we have."

Oxford Mail:

Colin Maw, who also lives in the village, said: “I can see why they want to do it as it’s an attractive location for them, but from my perspective it’s going to destroy the village.”

Since the company’s first exhibition earlier this year, it has taken onboard the concerns that were raised by the public including the resort's impact on the movement of traffic.

GWR now say that brown signposts will be erected directing visitors via different routes to minimise traffic flow through Chesterton.

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Drivers arriving and departing via the M40 (south) would be directed along the A34 and B430 through Weston-on-the-Green - a slower route - rather than the A41 and A4095 as originally intended.

But residents say this is not a better solution and will not deter people from cutting through Chesterton.

One resident, who has asked not to be named, said: “We don't want it. No matter what the signs and diversions say, people will still rat-run through Chesterton. They did it with Bicester Village and they'll do it again."

Greg Miller, from GWR, said: "It’s very important to GWR as a leisure destination that we have a sustainable solution. We can’t control changes with local infrastructure but we're working hand in hand with the Oxfordshire traffic team and Highways to develop solutions."

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Despite the negative response in Chesterton, people did seem to like the concept but would prefer it to be built either elsewhere in Bicester or further afield in a different county.

GWR said it initially expected London to be its site preference, but after research it found that the M40 corridor was better suited for its product.