Appeal fails to stop refugee bed centre

The Court of Appeal has rejected a council’s legal challenge and
given the go ahead for a 750-bed accommodation centre for asylum
seekers to be built near Bicester in Oxfordshire.

Cherwell Council had appealed against a High Court judgment
upholding the deputy prime minister John Prescott’s decision
granting planning approval for the centre.

A public inquiry into the centre recommended in March 2003 that
planning approval should not be granted. However, Prescott gave
approval in August 2003.