Leaders at Oxfordshire County Council have criticised Government proposals to remove planning decisions from local authorities by creating regional assemblies

At the moment, the county Structure Plan sets the framework for the provision of houses, jobs and protecting the environment.

County councillors fear the public will not be able to have their say if the bill becomes law, and decisions are made by a non-elected body unfamiliar with the county.

Under Government proposals, the council's strategic planning role could be carried out by regional bodies such as Seera, the South East England Regional Assembly, which is based in Guildford, Surrey.

The Regional Assemblies Bill, announced in the Queen's Speech on Wednesday (November 13), would abolish county structure plans.

The bill will pave the way for referendums on the creation of directly-elected assemblies in parts of England that want them.

Anne Purse, the county council's executive member for strategic planning, said: "The Government has no mandate for these proposals. They are not included in any manifesto and were opposed by 90 per cent of the people who responded to the Government's planning Green Paper.

"These proposals are anti-democratic and could have serious implications for the future of Oxfordshire's environment."

Chris Cousins, the council's assistant director of environmental services, said it could mean that plans for a new town in the county, or a new reservoir near Abingdon could be agreed in Guildford without taking into account the views of local residents.