Row over plan to build business park at Oxfordshire quarry site

Hundreds of people have signed a petition in a bid to stop an Oxfordshire quarry site being redeveloped into a business park.

It follows new proposals for a industrial site at the 20-acre Wicklesham Quarry in Faringdon.

Campaigner Anna Hoare said the site was of "special scientific interest" and should be returned to farmland.

Landowner Tom Allen-Stevens said the site is a "moonscape" and has little agricultural merit.

The sand and gravel quarry is currently operated by Grundon but the company is due to move out next April.

It was due to be returned to farmland but Faringdon Town Council's neighbourhood plan has earmarked the area for industrial use.

Ms Hoare said more than 300 people had signed the petition to protect the "rich and unusual" paleontological site, which is also home to 11 rare plant species.

Expressing her concerns that a business park would increase traffic, particularly the A420, she said: "It won't be employing local people, it will be bringing in large numbers of people and traffic from elsewhere."

Mr Allen-Stevens said: "You look at this site and you can see it's a moonscape, there's very little here."

He said it "makes sense" to create a business park as the land is screened by trees and is next to the A420 and his plan would protect areas of "special interest" and create grass and wildflower zones.

He added: "If people are going to live here they ought to be able to work here."

In a statement, Faringdon Town Council said the neighbourhood plan had been drawn up by residents concerned about the lack of employment land in the town and the scheme would help protect the site.