Oxfordshire village threatens to hold independence referendum over asylum plans
The government is proposing housing asylum seekers at a site near Piddington
Last updated 19th Jul 2026
An Oxfordshire village is threatening to break away from the UK, over plans to house asylum seekers nearby.
Piddington - which has 370 residents - is angry about a lack of consultation over the single-male adults being housed at a military base in Bicester.
It could be open as soon as Christmas.
Residents have raised concerns about safety for young people and pressures on existing services in the village.
Tim McNally is from Piddington Parish Council - he's among those calling for a rethink:
"This is not a problem that's going to go - it's an ongoing issue.
"I'm going to create a bad smell, a stain here - that will be here for an extended period of time - until the problem is resolved.
"The very fact that we as a group of individuals have pulled together, we are examining all legal opportunities to have Piddington heard."
The Home Office previously announced plans to use the former Bicester Garrison site, located between Piddington and Upper Arncott, to accommodate people seeking asylum.
This proposal is intended to provide an alternative to the use of hotel accommodation - as ministers have faced pressure to take action on this issue.
A Home Office spokesperson said:
"We are closing every asylum hotel and moving asylum seekers into basic accommodation including ex-military sites.
"This is an important step in ending the perception you can arrive in the UK illegally and end up in a hotel."
It's understood no final decision has been made yet on the plans.
Last month Cherwell District Council claimed it was not consulted on these proposals in advance and it only became aware of them shortly before they were made public.