Plans for a gravel depot have been given the go-ahead - but stringent conditions will protect nearby residents.

Oxfordshire county councillors voted to approve the depot, located just off the A34 near Kidlington alongside the Oxford-Bicester rail line.

Up to 200,000 tonnes of stone could be delivered to the site annually by train and loaded on lorries for roadworks across the country.

But councillors slapped 25 restrictions on the scheme, to be operated by construction firm Tarmac. They include: *Unloading of trains only between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday, and between 7am and 1pm on Saturdays

*No more than four trains a week

*No stockpile to be more than five metres in height

*Train engines to be switched off while unloading.

Kidlington councillor David Green said the decision was the "best possible".

He added: "Residents may see this result as a minor victory. "There are many restrictions in the plans that will mean their peace will not be disturbed.

"People here suffer already over noise from the A34. The last thing they needed was more."

Residents also feared damage to their homes from the heavy trains.

But the planning sub-committee ruled that trains entering the site should not exceed 1,480 tonnes.

Story date: Friday 03 December

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