Piddington will bring legal challenge over asylum base plans – parish council

Detailed summary

Communities Secretary Angela Rayner has approved full planning permission for the Ministry of Defence site.

The Government will face a legal challenge over plans to convert a Ministry of Defence site near the Oxfordshire village of Piddington into accommodation for more than 1,200 detained asylum seekers, the parish council chairman has said.

Communities Secretary Angela Rayner has approved full planning permission, a decision welcomed by the Home Office, who want to end the use of asylum hotels.

Ministers have faced angry opposition from villagers over the plans, who even made a symbolic attempt to declare the village independent from the rest of the country.

There is now a six-week window when the decision can 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.”

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