Overview
- Piddington residents voted overwhelmingly to hold a referendum on leaving the United Kingdom as a protest against a government plan to site asylum accommodation near the village.
- The government has identified a redundant Ministry of Defence site at Bicester Garrison for use and the local MP, Calum Miller, has said the location could hold about 1,250 single men and be operational by the end of 2026.
- Parish councillors and residents say they received no prior consultation and have raised worries about security, social cohesion, local services and house prices.
- The Home Office has declined to say whether it will recognise or act on any referendum result, leaving the vote without clear legal effect and prompting continued protests and plans for a local constitution.
- The dispute reflects a wider pattern of using surplus military sites for temporary asylum housing and highlights local political divisions that could lead to legal challenges, further protests or demands for formal consultation.