New Oxfordshire protest as locals resist ‘asylum centre’

This latest protest is happening on Sunday, July 19, and comes after the government announced that it is looking to use the redundant Ministry of Defence site located at site A of the Bicester Garrison, between Piddington and Upper Arncott, to house male asylum seekers.

It could be operational as early as the end of 2026 with Calum Miller MP for Bicester and Woodstock saying 1,250 men could be placed at the facility.

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The plan has caused outrage among locals and last weekend around 300 people turned up to protest against it.

This latest protest will begin at 11am, with participants encouraged to meet at Site A just off the B4011.

A photo from a protest against the ‘asylum centre’ plans (Image: Jamie Jessett, founder of Bicester Litter Pickers, Banbury & Kidlington)

The last one was put on by Oxford Stand Up to Racism outside the Coventry Building Society on Sheep Street on Sunday morning, July 12.

Oxford Stand Up to Racism said ahead of the protest that refugees should not be housed in what it describes as “inhumane camps”, such as the proposed facility near Bicester.

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Other groups have also organised protests about the plans for the facility including Pink Ladies UK.

The women’s safety group group, who call themselves a “non-political movement for the safety of women and girls in the UK,” joined the Unite The Kingdom march in May, and recently held a “Pink Protest” in Dover against illegal migration.

Pink Ladies Oxford did its own protest last Sunday, stating on its Facebook that “enough is enough.”