Demonstrators gathered in wet weather to express opposition to an Oxfordshire detention facility described as cruel, shortly after confirmation that proposals to significantly enlarge the site would face a public examination.

Approximately 20 individuals participated in the Saturday demonstration near Campsfield Immigration Centre, with demonstrations expressing that the Prime Minister had pledged to allow community input on such matters.

Accompanied by musical performances, campaigner Liz Peretz described the gathering as a successful and orderly expression of public feeling.

She observed that citizens from various demographics had united in rejecting detention as a solution.

Concerns were raised regarding expansion initiatives at this location and another facility in Gosport, which campaigners believe do not satisfy the criteria the Prime Minister had established.

In another constituency, the Prime Minister had committed to empowering local residents in such decisions.

At Campsfield, elected representatives, local authorities, and labour organisations have all voiced disapproval of the expansion proposal.

The Home Office scheme proposes enlarging the Kidlington-area detention complex to accommodate up to 400 individuals, with assessment currently underway through the Government Planning Inspectorate.

The establishment resumed operations in 2025 with 160 bed spaces following closure prompted by a review of detainee welfare and sustained opposition including hunger strikes.

Ms Peretz stated that imprisoning individuals seeking asylum, those whose visa documentation has expired, or those who have completed criminal sentences represents an unacceptable approach.

She emphasised that alternative approaches exist and should be implemented without delay.

Roughly 250 objections were submitted by nearby residents, employees, local authorities, parliamentarians, civil liberties organisations, and campaigning bodies.

These submissions consistently requested a formal inquiry to guarantee thorough examination of the proposal.

The expansion proposal is progressing via the Crown Development procedure, which effectively removes the matter from local planning jurisdiction on grounds of national significance.

However, in correspondence directed to those who submitted formal representations, the Planning Inspectorate’s Crown Development division confirmed that a public inquiry would take place.

The communication noted that the application had attracted substantial public attention, that certain matters raised involved considerable complexity, and that formal examination of evidence through cross-examination would prove beneficial.

The correspondence indicated that details regarding the inquiry’s scheduling would be published on the relevant website in due course.

An inquiry constitutes a quasi-judicial process employed to assess significant and contentious development proposals.

It represents the most comprehensive procedure available for determining whether such schemes should proceed or be rejected.

Government guidance specifies that such proceedings are accessible to the public and facilitate detailed investigation and testing of evidence, typically through questioning of expert and other witnesses, with parties entitled to professional legal representation.