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	Cherwell reveals Campsfield extension "in abeyance"
	Friday 10 February 06

	Cherwell District Council today revealed in a communication to local campaigners that the planning application to extend Campsfield House Immigration Removals Centre in Kidlington was "in abeyance" and explicity linked it to the future of the site at Piddington. During 2005, the Home Office had applied to Cherwell for non-statutory planning permission to extend Campsfield and campaigners from the Close Campsfield Campaign based in and around Oxford, submitted a detailed written objection to the plans. Cherwell District Council - the same planning authority which rejected the application to build the now abandoned Accommodation Centre proposal outside Bicester - decided to reject the Campsfield planning application. Subsequently, it was announced that there was to be a limited form of Public Inquiry. Although the terms of this were never clarified, it was made clear that written submissions were to go to a regional Government planning office and local campaigners again submitted a written objection to them. After a period of silence lasting more than six months and following a request by campaigners, Cherwell planners today gave the following statement: "The present position is that the application to expand Campsfield is in abeyance following the Ministerial announcement on 14 June 2005 about Immigration Accommodation Centres. There is to be a wider review of the Immigration Removal Centre Estate being carried by the Home Office. If the proposals for Campsfield are to proceed there may be an inquiry later this year." Campsfield House is located on the outskirts of Kidlington, some 12 miles south of Bicester and 6 miles north of Oxford city centre. It has been open as an immigration detention facility since 1993, recently changing its designation to "Removals Centre", although people without removals directions are still held there. The Close Campsfield Campaign holds monthly demonstrations there every last Saturday of the month, from 12 noon to 2 pm. There is also now a monthly bike ride from the Martyrs' Memorial in St Giles, Oxford city centre, leaving at 1115 and proceeding at a leisurely pace to Campsfield for the demonstration and an active Students Against Campsfield group. Further information: Campaign to Close Campsfield web site
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