CAMPAIGNERS fighting a ‘bonkers’ plan to put houses next to a gas works believe the developer won’t give up on its scheme.

West Oxfordshire District Council’s planning committee rejected a second planning application from Gladman homes for 270 houses next to the Flogas Apley Works plant in the Windrush Valley at a meeting on Tuesday last week.

The application was defeated mainly because of its potential impact on the natural beauty of the Windrush Valley and because the houses were deemed to be too close to the gas plant and could be in danger in the event of an explosion.

On Friday four fire engines had to tackle at least 50 bales of hay which caught fire in a field by Tower Hill, not far from the gas plant.

Gladman’s first application was defeated by WODC last year but the firm took it to an appeal which is still waiting to be heard.

Mark Hammond, of the Windrush Valley Protection Group, which has fought the applications, said despite the victory, he expects Gladman to fight on and take the second application to appeal.

He said: “It’s good news but we realise it’s only a partial step with the first application still at the appeal stage.

“I would imagine they will take exactly the same step with the second application and appeal against it.

Mr Hammond said the main grounds for the group to oppose the homes are the impact on traffic congestion and infrastructure like school places, the impact on the natural beauty of the Windrush Valley and the proximity of the homes to the gas plant.

He said: “There’s a very good reason the plant is situated in the bottom of the valley away from everything. To build right next to it seems completely bonkers.”

Gladman did not comment.