Housing minister Margaret Beckett met with residents of Bicester and surrounding parishes to discuss the potential eco town concept proposed by Cherwell District Council, at Bicester Country Club.

Part of the Government's consultation exercise into the viability of proposed eco towns, the meeting gave local representatives the opportunity to voice their concerns and hear from the minister direct.

Cherwell's concept, to consider building an eco settlement on the north west edge of Bicester, was suggested as an alternative to the proposed eco town, which could be built at Weston on Otmoor.

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The council invited Mrs Beckett to meet with representative from Caversfield, Bucknell and Chesterton, as well as district councillors from wards covering those parishes, the Weston Front and other interest groups, including Bicester Vision.

Councillors from Cherwell District and Oxfordshire County Council also spent time with the minister discussing the options for north west Bicester.

Councillor Barry Wood, leader of Cherwell District Council, hosted the meetings, which he believes were valuable.

He explained: "The meetings were an opportunity to discuss eco town ideas and concerns with the person who will ultimately make the decision over where they are located. Mrs Beckett will no doubt consider what she saw and heard when she makes her decisions.

"Cherwell District and Oxfordshire County Councils remains opposed to the proposal to build an eco town Weston on Otmoor. The meeting gave us another opportunity to explain why we think the Weston plan would be bad news for Bicester and to suggest a potential alternative."

Mrs Beckett is expected to make decisions on the location of eco towns in the UK in June 2009.

(CD/JM)