A BICESTER resident furious at the way an eco-town has been “fast-tracked” with little public consultation wants to launch an action group.

Tony Ives plans to host a meeting in two weeks to encourage people to launch a campaign fighting the Cherwell District Council proposal to build 5,000 homes on farmland in North West Bicester.

He believes the town should have a steady growth rather than “mega growth” and there should be more public consultation.

A former town planner at the Vale of White Horse District Council Mr Ives, of Lucerne Avenue, said: “I’m shocked and horrified at the way the council has bypassed the normal planning system.

“In only four months, Cherwell District Council has fast-tracked a new plan through its executive committee to increase the population size of Bicester from 30,000 to 50,000-plus and has already passed the plan to the Government for endorsement.

“There are some big questions about how this has come about.”

The proposed eco-town will be built on green fields from Lords Lane and Howes Lane towards Caversfield and Bucknell.

It could also house businesses, a monorail, three schools and a biomass plant and forest area to provide energy for the homes and firms on the development.

It is being put forward as a rival to the Weston Otmoor proposal near Weston-on-the-Green, which itself is opposed by locals.

But Mr Ives said: “The so-called eco-town extension would sprawl over 850 acres of productive farmland — surely an eco-town which swallows up so much farmland is a contradiction in terms?

“It would be the biggest single housing development ever in Oxfordshire.

“It would be the same size as the whole of Henley or Thame.”

Mr Ives has accused an “all powerful” district executive of nine Conservative members — which includes only two Bicester members — of making a decision affecting the town and surrounding villages without proper consultation.

Mr Ives is concerned about the implications of the North West Bicester eco-town on the rest of the town, including services, shopping, schools, health and transport.

Cherwell has offered North West Bicester to the Government as an alternative to Weston Otmoor, which it fears could have a catastrophic effect on Bicester and Kidlington.

Last year, leader of Cherwell Barry Wood was accused of ignoring the democratic process after it emerged he had offered land at North West Bicester for an eco-town before talking to fellow councillors or landowners.

He has since apologised, but last month the council’s executive agreed to push ahead with the proposal.

Mr Ives’ meeting, entitled The Future of Bicester, is due to take place on Tuesday, May 19, at Bicester Methodist Church Hall, Sheep Street, at 8pm. For more information call Mr Ives on 01869 320959 or email antonyives@onetel.com