Plans for asylum accommodation just miles from Aylesbury set to face legal challenge

Communities Secretary Angela Rayner granted full planning permission yesterday (Thursday) for a former Ministry of Defence site near the village of Piddington to be used for asylum accommodation for up to 1,256 people.

Villagers had strongly opposed plans to house single adult men at the former military site, raising concerns about women’s safety.

The parish council also held a symbolic vote on whether the village should leave the UK, hoping to persuade the Government to abandon the proposal.

There is now a six-week window when the decision could face a legal challenge.

Parish council chairman Tim McNally said there would be “many actions” by villagers, and that ministers should “absolutely” be braced for a legal challenge.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the village could also apply the new Hillsborough Law.

Once passed, the law would create a legally enforceable duty of candour which compels public officials and authorities to act transparently when investigations and inquiries take place.

Mr McNally told the programme: “Last night, (Prime Minister) Andy Burnham was on a podium talking about the violence, sexual violence towards women, and bringing it upon the media industry as their responsibility to manage.

“But the reality is, is that this is exactly what the Government is doing to us here.”

Asked how the village would respond, he said: “There’s going to be many actions, you will see. We will disclose that as we move forward.

“Today is a day of reflection, and we’ll work out where we plan to go from this point. But I will say, the Hillsborough Law is there for a reason, and we’re going to apply it.”

Asked if ministers should be braced for a legal challenge, he said: “Absolutely, absolutely.”

Downing Street has come out in defence of the plans today, with the Prime Minister’s deputy spokeswoman saying such sites are “designed to be self-contained with 24/7 security and CCTV to minimise the impact on the local community”.

She continued: “As the Prime Minister himself has said, we do not want a situation where it’s only the poorest communities in the country that receive all of the dispersal of refugees and asylum seekers who believe all parties to play their part.”

Asked what he would say to the women of Piddington, the spokeswoman said: “I think he would say we completely understand the strength of the feeling here and the safety of the public will always be our top priority, and that’s why we will work with police and other partners to ensure security arrangements are in place.”

Earlier, Buckinghamshire MPs condemned the decision with Greg Smith, the Conservative MP for Mid Bucks, calling it a “disaster” and saying that the Government “don’t give two hoots about us here in Bucks”.

However, Mr Smith said he would explore “every avenue” to overturn the decision and work with police to protect nearby villages.

“The Labour Government have approved MoD Bicester Site A as an asylum camp,” the MP said.

"This is totally outrageous and proves this Government don’t give two hoots about us here in Bucks.

“I will keep working on two fronts - firstly to explore every avenue to get this decision overturned and secondly work with our police to ensure our villages are properly protected when the camp is opened up. Never give up.”

Joy Morrissey, the Conservative MP for Beaconsfield added: “Labour has chosen to put illegal migrant men before the safety of women and girls.

“The use of emergency powers by Angela Rayner shows complete contempt for the concerns of residents in Piddington, Bicester and surrounding villages.

“It is a disgraceful decision.”

Defence Minister Luke Pollard said the Government would continue to engage with the community, telling LBC: “It’s pretty obvious that there’s a strong sense of feeling from the community around Bicester, especially in Piddington.

“There’s still a few more stages to go here, so it’s not yet fully locked in and delivered, so that we can understand where the concerns are, so they can be mitigated.

“I recognise that any change for the people around MoD Bicester will be a concern, and that’s why it’s so important that the Home Office engages with the community.”

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the plans were a “betrayal of the women of Piddington” and “emblematic of Labour and Angela Rayner’s disregard for the law and women and girls’ safety”.

She said on social media: “When I visited Piddington I met a village terrified of what was about to land on their doorstep.

“The Government said it was listening, instead it’s completely ignored this community’s concerns.

“The 1,000+ male migrants that Labour are about to deposit in Oxfordshire are in Britain illegally.

"They should be deported as soon as possible, not housed in areas completely unsuitable for the task.”

A Home Office spokesperson said previously: “Planning permission allows us to continue to progress the use of MoD Bicester. However, a final decision to proceed is yet to be taken.

“The Government is working on a fairer distribution of asylum accommodation across the country, with over £1 billion saved in costs since the election.

“This includes closing all asylum hotels and moving to alternative accommodation, including former military sites.

“These are designed to be self-contained, with 24/7 security and CCTV, to minimise the impact on the local community.”