Two local council have been working on a campaign to raise awareness to concerns bout the ‘Greater Oxford’ Unitary Authority and has compiled several reasons they feel this shouldn’t go forward.
Harm from Development
By 2040, an additional 43,000 to 67,000 new homes could be brought forward under the greater Oxford proposals – in the Green Belt Countryside on the edge of Oxford. 67,000 more houses would mean a similar number of additional cars and 160,800 more people. Hundreds of acres of Green Belt countryside around Oxford have already been given up for Oxford’s ‘unmet house need’, 200 acres in South Oxfordshire alone.
Delivery of Services and Costs to Council Taxpayers
Currently the County Council delivers approximately 80% of services with expenditure in 2024/5 of £1,439 million on adult social care, SEND, education, highways, transport, fire and rescue etc. The budget for social care alone is 51%. The districts provide planning, housing, environmental health, licensing, rubbish collection etc. Oxford City Council’s expenditure last year was £246 million. There would be significant set up costs for services not currently delivered and increases in the costs per person from a smaller council each year.
Transport
The problem of accessing Oxford for commuters has not been addressed or solved and will restrict expansion. Building on the edge of Oxford will not solve, but exacerbate traffic congestion and journey times. Many rural parishes have inadequate public transport and little alternative to the car.
Environment and Climate Change
A number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest are already under threat from developments for Oxford’s ‘unmet housing need’ along with rare and protected species. Destruction of substantial amounts of Green Belt countryside will contribute to the UK being one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. The extensive development will cause a significant increase in CO2 emissions and contribute to climate change
Harm to Communities
Oxford currently has a population of 165,200 which would increase to only 240,000 under their proposals, while cutting up districts and some parishes. A ‘Greater Oxford’ would be heavily dominated by the City, which would retain numerical supremacy and control over the annexed rural parishes.
To view the Greater Oxford proposal: Our Proposal | Greater Oxford
Should you wish to object, there is a petition which can be signed: Petition · REJECT THE ‘GREATER OXFORD’ UNITARY AUTHORITY – United Kingdom · Change.org
Comments can be posted on the relevant sites:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/OxfordCityCouncil
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/oxfordcitycouncil/
Twitter – X – https://x.com/oxfordcity
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/oxfordcitycouncil
Linked-In – https://www.linkedin.com/company/oxford-city-council