Overview
- Residents organised a parish referendum that was held on Tuesday, September 15, and with 312 ballots counted 285 voted to 'secede' and brand the village the 'Principality of Piddington'.
- The vote carries no legal force and was staged as a political protest; organisers have announced symbolic steps such as a principality sign, talk of identity cards and plans for CCTV and patrols to press ministers.
- The Home Office says it is phasing out asylum hotels and moving people into alternative sites including former military bases, while officials stress the MoD Bicester plan has not yet received a final ministerial approval and a public consultation and planning process remains open.
- Villagers have spelled out concrete local concerns about the proposed site, citing the B4011’s lack of pavements, a mile-plus to safe footpaths, limited power and drainage capacity, and the government travel plan’s reliance on shuttle buses.
- Local organisers and council leaders warn the row has become nationalised and could attract far-right protesters, so the key near-term developments to watch are the planning decision, police security plans and any further government engagement with the community.