CHERWELL DISTRICT COUNCIL & OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL – Press Release

PR 726    27/01/2009    Councils react to eco town judgment    [For

Immediate Release]

Councils react to eco town judgment

Cherwell District and Oxfordshire County Councils are disappointed to

learn the Judicial Review of the eco town planning process has found in

favour of the Government.

Leader of Cherwell District Council Barry Wood said, "Cherwell District

Council  has always maintained the Government's process is flawed and

does not properly provide for well judged planning decisions, so we

supported the spirit of the action taken by the protest groups,

including Weston Front. It is disappointing that the legal challenge

failed, but it only covered the early stage consultation on the eco

towns scheme - not the whole decision process. Our fight against Weston

Otmoor continues. Cherwell District Council and Oxfordshire County will

work together to object to Weston Otmoor. "

Councillor Keith Mitchell, the Leader of Oxfordshire County Council,

said:  "While this is disappointing, our case against the Weston Otmoor

eco town is still very strong. Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell

District Council are as one on this and local people are very unhappy.

We know that, when last assessed by the Government, Weston Otmoor did

not fare very well. Nothing has changed since then. These plans remain

pie in the sky and we believe that will tell in the final analysis."