Residents of a tiny Oxfordshire village say their quiet lives will be transformed if a former military site is used to house asylum seekers. Piddington, a 40-minute drive from Oxford, is home to just 268 adults and 46 children, and has no shops or pubs. But this could all change now due to plans to accommodate up to 1,250 asylum seekers at the nearby MoD Bicester. The former military site sits close to a recreation area, sports pitches and homes, with some residents saying gardens back directly onto the site.
Independence ballot to 'leave the UK'
Furious residents have protested against the plans and, on July 4, agreed to hold an independence ballot to leave the UK, with 96% backing the move. The date was deliberately chosen to coincide with American Independence Day in a symbolic attempt to send a message to the Government. Tim McNally, chairman of Piddington Parish Council, told the Express they're “going for the political jugular” with this referendum. He said the scale of the proposal is particularly concerning for the tiny community, which feels “absolutely trapped and in a corner”.
"I thought, how do I get to the Government and make them realise this is all wrong?" he said. "And that's where the plan came on." "It's not the fact that it's a gimmick. What has the Government done to its people to stimulate them to do such a thing?" The independence referendum is planned for September 15 — the same day as the Battle of Britain Day and the United Nations' International Democracy Day. "On that day, we’re going to send a message back to this country," he said.
Concerns over safety and stretched services
Mr McNally said one of his and the village's main concerns was how the arrival of a large number of people could affect residents' safety and how they could have to "change their habits". He said he's received some reports across the whole of Europe, such as the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland, which have got similar centres and many issues. "If the Government had done its research on these big sites, do they understand how they're managed?" he asked. "Do they understand how men work and think in these big sites? It's not a prison. These men have already committed one crime to get into the country. What are they getting away from? They're not running away from war at all because why wouldn't they stop in Germany or Italy or France, Spain, wherever? No, they've come here for a reason."
Mr McNally pointed to the rural location and lack of infrastructure, including roads without pavements. He raised concerns about pressure on local health and emergency services, arguing that additional resources had not been provided. "There's no budget being given to the police yet," he said, adding that healthcare needs at the site could "consume resources that we haven't got. How fast can the police get here?" He pointed to the rural location and existing pressures on services, adding: "The resources are already stretched."
Residents fear becoming 'prisoners'
Local residents Derek and Karen Joy also shared their concerns. Derek has lived in the village for 53 years, while his wife has lived there for 15 years. Karen said: "It's a very free village. It's a very safe village, and for me, that's the issue of having 1,200 men out whenever and wherever." "Some gardens literally back onto the site so there's a noise factor, but there's also a security factor." She said the site was "unsuitable", highlighting how there's "no lighting, no pavement, nowhere to go." The couple claimed they weren't consulted about this at all.
Derek said: "My great concern about this is the amount of people descending on this small village of about 350 people." Derek said that based on his experience in the Army, large groups of young men with little to do can become bored, challenge each other and create trouble. He fears that having around 1,200 people at the site with limited activities could increase the risk of problems in the village. He also raised concerns about the support asylum seekers receive, saying he had seen a list of items provided to them, including phones and clothing. He questioned the level of support being offered and suggested the Government should reconsider how asylum accommodation is provided. Karen added: "If they were locked up, which they're saying you can't do, we feel we're going to be locked up. We're going to be made prisoners."
Melise Witkin, a Piddington resident of six years, agrees. She said: "For me safety is the biggest thing. It would change our lives. I'm scared and I think that's really sad." She said the village was currently "really close-knit" and that residents valued its rural and peaceful character. Everyone knows each other and feels safe in the village. "I go out, I leave my back door open," she said. "I go and do the horses. I come back in." She said residents would definitely have to change their routines because of concerns about safety.
Melise said the proposed site is particularly close to the Jubilee, a small recreational area used by local families and residents. She said the MOD boundary sits directly behind it, with children using the area to play football and residents walking their dogs and exercising. She said the proximity of the proposed accommodation to this space was a particular concern given the village’s small population and the number of children and older residents who live there. While she currently feels comfortable walking her dogs or tending to her horses in the fields at night, she fears that could change. "Would I feel safe going out into my own fields to get my horses in this time next year? 100% not," she says.
Melise also questioned what 1,250 people would do in a village with no pub or shops. "Of course, they’re going to be curious. Of course they’re going to walk around," she said. She added that residents’ concerns were not about opposing asylum accommodation generally, but about the scale of the proposal. "It’s not about being against. It’s about being realistic. 1,250 men in a village of 356. You do the maths." She said the impact could extend beyond Piddington to neighbouring villages, with residents from Ambrosden, Arncott and Blackthorn now attending campaign meetings. "They know it’s going to hit them, and it’s not just hitting Piddington," she said.
Melise said residents like her had chosen to live in Piddington for its "safe and rural lovely country lifestyle." Like the other residents the Express spoke to, she said the local services are already stretched, and even residents can't get an appointment. She also raised concerns about the lack of things to do, saying they'll likely go to the Tesco drink jubilee reserve. "They could have been men from anywhere, but it's just 18-year-old lads, regardless of who they are, I wouldn't feel safe walking my dog in the evening or when I go and get my horses in from the field around 10pm. Would I feel safe going out into my own fields to get my horses in this time next year? Yeah, 100% not. And I think that's really sad. This was my choice to live in a rural place like Piddington."
Government response
The Home Office is considering using the Bicester barracks to house 1,250 people. Minister of State in the Home Office Anna Turley told LBC radio: "They’re not going to be in the village, they’re going to be contained in a former military base, they will be allowed out, but everything they need will be on that site." She added: "We are looking at former military bases around the country, we’re also looking at former industrial sites, student accommodation, other means by which we can put people in secure places that is contained and is manageable – going back to the beginning of our conversation – is more affordable than putting people in hotels."
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Tuesday that the Government will make sure arrivals are not only placed in "the poorest" communities in the country, and that wealthier communities must also "play their part" in hosting asylum seekers. He told GB News: "I will listen to what people are saying and respond to the concerns that they are putting forward. I don't know the issue yet in detail, but in some ways, as I understand it, it is about creating secure space." He added: "I do have to say, we cannot have a situation where it's only the poorest communities in the country that receive all of the dispersal of refugees and asylum seekers. I do believe all parts of the country need to work, to play their part. We understand people's concerns and I will look into the issues raised by the good people of Piddington."
