THE governor of Bullingdon prison has objected to plans to create a caravan site for travellers over security concerns.

Laura Sapwell said any development so close to the jail is a 'real concern'.

She is one of 81peole who have objected to the planning application in Piddington, near Bicester.

The proposed site, which would consist of 12 pitches, each with two caravans on land off Widnell Lane, is located north east of the jail.

Mrs Sapwell said in her objection letter to Cherwell District Council: "As part of our security measures, we monitor carefully any activity around the external perimeter so that any unauthorised people, vehicles or suspicious activity which may pose a threat to the security of the prison has to be investigated and challenged.

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"Any new development - of any type - so close to the HMP Bullingdon site which brings more people and more vehicles close to our land and buildings, is a real concern."

Each pitch would have one mobile home and one touring caravan and woodland planting and a grassed area of land would be provided in the north eastern corner of the site.

Foul sewerage would be provided by way of a water treatment plant.

Six pitches in the same location were approved on appeal in 2019, but residents feel it is not appropriate for any more to be set up in the village.

Piddington Parish Council has also objected to the plans. It said: "We do not consider the site to be suitable to sustain 12 caravans with approximately 50 residents. Piddington is a category C village and has been described as one of the least sustainable locations in Cherwell.

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"We have no school, no doctor’s surgery, no shop, no pub and no bus service. The site in question is prone to flooding and has no connection to mains services."

As the site would be located on agricultural land in the open countryside, council officers say it would 'cause harm to the character and appearance of the area'.

It is also identified as being at risk from surface water flooding.

The applicant also did not submit enough information to show the amount of impact that the development may have on protected species and a flood risk assessment was also not submitted, meaning planning officers were unable to assess the flood risk.

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Villager David Hutchings, who also objects, said: "For 12 pitches to each have two caravans plus the addition of extra road vehicles as a result would generate a substantial increase in traffic to this rural narrow lane (which has two blind bends adjacent to entrance). The size of such an overdeveloped site would have a huge dominance on the local community."

Robert Bonnet, who lives in Piddington, said: "There is a danger that this expanded site will grow further and begin to dominate the locality. The essential character of our village and its environs would be adversely affected with the growth of an alternative but transient community on its doorstep."

Councillors are recommended to refuse the application at a planning committee meeting today at 4pm.