PROPOSALS to build up to 1,300 homes on land west of Carterton came under fire at a special council meeting yesterday.

Four sites around the town are earmarked for development but the main focus of opposition is on the Carterton West site, between the town and Alvescot.

Developer Crest Nicholson wants to put up to 1,300 homes and a primary school on Alvescot Downs, alongside the Shill Brook.

Members of the Stop Carterton West group staged a lunchtime protest outside Witney Corn Exchange, where the West Oxfordshire District Council meeting was being held.

Group spokesman Richard Martin, who is also the chairman of Filkins Parish Council, said: “We cannot find any evidence of a proven need for a large housing estate to be bolted on to Carterton.

“Even if there were such a need, the West option striking across Shill Brook and destroying Alvescot Downs would be the worst of all the possible options.

“It doesn’t help the town and there needs to be rejuvenation in the town.”

The meeting was called to allow councillors to hear the public’s views on its draft core strategy.

The strategy will allocate sites for 4,300 new homes across West Oxfordshire over the next 15 years and a decision is due to be made by October.

The afternoon session focused on Carterton.

Andrew Garbutt, who lives on Alvescot Downs, said: “Carterton West is unsustainable and undeliverable, in the wrong place, with more houses than the site can support.”

But Kevin Wilcox, the strategic land director for Crest Nicholson, told councillors: “This site is close to existing schools, which are under subscribed and need new pupils and the site is within easy walking and cycling distance.

“The future of the schools would be assured by this proposal.

“If the site is not developed Alvescot will still suffer flooding as there are no other plans to solve the problem.”

Terry Gashe, a planning consultant, appeared for Carterton Town Council, which has indicated its support for the Carterton West site.

He said: “The council concluded it preferred the West site because it is best able to support the viability of the town centre, has space for future expansion and is best able to support the Community College.”

In addition to Carterton West, David Wilson Homes wants to develop 300 homes on a site north of the town off Swinbrook Road and Bloor Homes wants to build 750 homes to the east of the town.

Developer Figbury proposes 300 homes at Kilkenny Farm also on the northern edge of the town.

However, Brize Norton parish councillor Garry Griffin criticised these schemes.

He said: “If the eastern site were allowed, our village would effectively be swallowed into Carterton.

“The Country Park was supposed to mark the northern boundary of the town, so the Kilkenny site should not be allowed.”

wcrossley@oxfordmail.co.uk