Oxfordshire's structure plan is being reviewed by the county council amid growing concern about the Government's proposal to abolish the document.

The plan sets the framework for the provision of houses, jobs and other developments that the county's residents need, while protecting the environment.

But it is feared that the public will not be able to have their say if the changes go ahead and decisions are made by a non-elected body unfamiliar with the county.

An issues paper will be published in the spring to seek the views of the public and a wide range of organisations about how Oxfordshire should develop in the future.

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

County council leader Keith Mitchell said: "Our main concern is that the abolition of the structure plan will remove strategic planning from local democratic control."

Cllr Anne Purse, executive member for strategic planning and waste management, said: "The council, through its planning role, has for many years successfully balanced the need to provide housing and jobs for people with the need to protect the county's attractive environment.

"I'm very concerned that this role could pass to an un-elected regional body, remote from Oxfordshire, which could impose inappropriate development upon us."

The county's structure plan, running until 2011, was adopted in 1998.

The county council is now reviewing the plan to take it forward to at least 2016. The publication of an issues paper is the first stage in the review.