Residents have said a resounding 'no' to plans to develop fields on the edge of Woodstock.

More than 200 people packed a public meeting in the town's community hall to voice their opposition to a scheme for a hotel and housing to the south-east of the town.

West Oxfordshire District Council is asking residents where they want to see future development as part of the review of the Local Plan.

The district is earmarked to take 1,700 new houses outside Witney up to 2011.

Blenheim Estates and developers Persimmon Homes have unveiled plans to build houses and business units together with a hotel on 45 acres of farm land.

The Glyme Action Group, which successfully fought plans to build a bypass to the east of the town, has renamed itself the Woodstock Action Group to fight the scheme. Town councillor Philip Redpath who is a member of the Woodstock Action Group, said: "There was not one person at the meeting in favour of the development.

"The town is totally opposed to it.

"I personally think that Woodstock as a town can take 50 low-cost homes over the next seven years.'

After the public meeting, town councillors also ruled out large scale development for the town.

Town clerk Marian Moxon said: "We want to see up to a maximum of 50 houses in Woodstock with 50 per cent affordable homes. They should not be located either adjacent to the estates of Old Woodstock, Hensington Gate or the football field in New Road.

"We also believe brown field sites should be looked at as a priority by the district council."

Agent for Blenheim estates Philip Everett said: "The district council needs land for 1,700 houses and we have suggested this site is one possible place for some development. We are keen to offer the site for mixed development of not just different types of housing but also business use and possibly a hotel together with seven acres of playing fields.

"The land is held in a trust for the Blenheim Estates and the Duke of Marlborough is not a beneficiary of this trust."

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