Voters in the small Oxfordshire village of Piddington are casting ballots in a symbolic referendum on whether to leave the UK. The vote, organised by the local parish council, is in response to government plans to house asylum seekers at the nearby former Ministry of Defence (MoD) Bicester site.
The Home Office proposals involve housing up to 1,256 male asylum seekers at MoD Bicester, which is about half a mile from Piddington. Polling for the referendum is taking place between 07:00 and 19:00 BST today, Tuesday.
Council chair Tim McNally stated that the government "does not want to engage with villagers concerns." He added that the proposed plan was not proportionate. Last week, 133 women from the village wrote to female Members of Parliament, expressing fears that "life as we know it will be destroyed" if the plans proceed.
The ballot paper asks residents to respond yes or no to the statement: "I support Piddington seeking to secede from the United Kingdom and pursuing self-determination." The outcome of the referendum, which holds no legal weight, is expected to be announced on Wednesday morning.
The government's proposals for MoD Bicester are currently undergoing a public consultation. Planning documents released by the Home Office last week stated the development aims to be as self-contained as possible, with essential facilities on site to reduce the need for travel.