The Oxford Green Belt is currently threatened by proposals for an ecotown, for wind turbines, and for a huge book depository. We believe all of them would be contrary to Green Belt policy and highly damaging to the Green Belt environment and landscape.

Two schemes for so-called "ecotowns", both in the Oxford Green Belt, were submitted to the government. One of them, at Shipton quarry, has been rejected. The other one, at Weston-on-the-Green, has been included on the shortlist of 15 from which the government will later in the year select ten.

About a third of the site of "Weston Otmoor" is in the Green Belt, and a part of this is an area of Special Scientific Interest. Some 15,000 dwellings are proposed and it would be a new town in all but name. Aside from the destruction of Green Belt land, the scheme conflicts with existing plans at regional, county, district and parish levels. The site is close to Bicester where it would seriously compromise approved plans to improve services and infrastructure in that town. We believe Weston Otmoor should be dropped from the list of ecotowns.

All who love the surroundings of Oxford will be horrified by the news that the City Council is working with a private company to install giant wind turbines on 4 sites, all in the Green Belt. The sites are at Chilswell Farm, Cutteslowe Park, Oxford Road Horspath, and Sandford Brake. For more insight into City Council thinking see:
Oxford City Council Executive Board meeting of 4 February 2008 (PDF 230 Kb),
Oxford City Council Executive Board meeting of 17 March 2008 (PDF 261 Kb), and,
Oxford City Council Executive Board meeting of 21 April 2008 (PDF 435 Kb).

We do not believe that inland windfarms are economically effective and the turbines, if erected, would harm cherished views and add to clutter from pylons and overhead wires in Oxford’s Green Belt setting. The Oxford Green Belt is not the place for wind turbines, least of all the Hinksey Hills and Shotover. They would do great harm for very little benefit and should not be allowed to go ahead.

Despite having its application rejected by the City Council, the University of Oxford is persisting with its proposal to erect a huge book depository at Osney Mead on the western side of Oxford. A public inquiry into the plans is due to begin on 1^st July. The book warehouse would be enormous and, we believe, would spoil for ever the classic views of Oxford’s towers and spires from the Hinksey Hills and Meadows. These views, immortalized by writers and artists are too precious to lose to a building for which there are alternative sites. We hope the inquiry, at which the Oxford Green Belt Network will give evidence, will result in the final rejection of this very damaging scheme.