Residents of Bicester and surrounding villages are set to stage a protest on Saturday, August 8, over Home Office plans to house up to 1,250 asylum seekers at a military site near the town.

The demonstration will take place at 3pm at Pingle Playing Field before participants march through the town in what organisers describe as a “peaceful community protest”.

Back on June 25 the Home Office announced that it intends to use the redundant MOD Site A at Bicester Garrison, between Piddington and Upper Arncott, to accommodate asylum seekers.

The proposal forms part of the Government's plan to reduce the use of hotels for asylum accommodation, which ministers say is expensive and attracts protests.

Bicester residents have been staging protests against the Home Office's plans to house asylum seekers at a former military site near the town.

placeholder image — Bicester residents have been staging protests against the Home Office's plans to house asylum seekers at a former military site near the town.

However, the plans have prompted widespread concern among local residents and politicians, many of whom believe the former military site is not suitable for accommodating such a large number of people.

Cherwell District Council leader Cllr Lesley McLean, Bicester MP Calum Miller and Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber have all publicly raised concerns about the proposal.

They have questioned the potential impact on local infrastructure, public services and community safety, while also criticising what they describe as a lack of consultation and communication from the Home Office.

Over the past month, residents have organised a number of public meetings and demonstrations in opposition to the plans.

Organisers insist the campaign is not directed against people seeking asylum and describe the protests as “non-political, non-racist, non-violent and non-abusive” and say families and children will be among those attending.

Saturday's protest has been organised by local residents Paula Ewers and David Ford, who say the demonstration is intended to give local people an opportunity to express their concerns about the proposal.

They said: “Our main concern has always been the safety and wellbeing of the people who already live in our communities. We feel the Home Office has failed to be transparent throughout this process, leaving residents in the dark and without the information they need to understand how such a significant decision has been made.

“There are also serious concerns that the site does not have the infrastructure to support a development of this scale. Local roads, GP surgeries and other essential services are already under pressure, and many residents are questioning how the area will cope without substantial investment.

“This is not about being against individuals seeking asylum. It is about ensuring that decisions are made responsibly, with proper consultation and with the safety of local residents as the highest priority. At the moment, many people feel their concerns have been dismissed rather than addressed.

“Our community is simply asking for openness, meaningful engagement and reassurance that the safety and wellbeing of local residents, alongside the capacity of local infrastructure, have been fully considered before any decision is made.”

The Home Office has previously said the former military site would provide temporary accommodation while asylum claims are processed as part of its wider strategy to reduce reliance on hotels and lower accommodation costs.