Women in the Oxfordshire village of Piddington, together with local parish councillors and residents, have raised serious concerns over government plans to house up to 1,256 single adult male asylum seekers at a former Ministry of Defence site next to their community of roughly 350 people.
Around 133 female residents have written an open letter to all 266 women Members of Parliament warning that their safety, security and freedoms will be under threat if the proposal proceeds.
Also read: Man jailed for masturbating in front of woman on a UK train
The letter states that the women already feel they are living in fear and will no longer feel safe walking the village streets.
Residents report taking practical steps in response. Some women have begun self-defence classes, others have installed CCTV cameras, and many say they are changing their daily routines.
Local coverage has also noted police advice urging women in the area to take precautions while the plans remain under discussion.
The proposed non-detained facility would operate on a sign-in and sign-out basis and would more than triple the population of the small rural village, which has no shop, pub or school.
Parish council chairman Tim McNally has described the scale as disproportionate for a community of this size.
The Piddington asylum centre plans form part of a wider government effort to move asylum seekers out of hotels and onto former military or other suitable sites.
Ministers have said no final decision has yet been taken and that consultation with local communities continues.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has acknowledged the frustration felt by residents while stressing the need to share the accommodation burden across the country.
In mid-September 2026 the village held a symbolic independence referendum as a form of protest. Of the 312 ballots cast, 285 supported leaving the United Kingdom, with turnout reported at nearly 92 per cent.
The result has no legal force but has drawn national attention to the concerns of the community.
Cherwell District Council has formally objected to the planning application, citing unresolved issues around infrastructure, environmental impact, access and community safety.
Campaigners have also highlighted the presence of protected wildlife such as newts and bats on the site as a potential further obstacle.
One resident, Heidi Meakin, a widow living in the village, said she would no longer feel able to leave her front door unlocked or walk her dog freely if the centre went ahead.
The proposal has placed a quiet rural community at the centre of a national debate about how asylum accommodation should be distributed.
Also read: Man jailed for masturbating in front of woman on a UK train
While the government insists the site would be largely self-sufficient and carefully managed, villagers continue to press for their voices to be heard before any final decision is made.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
