Public inquiry into fate of lake

Campaigners claim the company has ignored locals' concerns

A public inquiry has begun to decide the fate of an Oxfordshire lake ear-marked as a dumping ground for waste ash from a local power station.

RWE Npower has planning permission to fill Radley Lakes, near Abingdon, with ash from Didcot Power Station.

Campaigners opposing the plans have applied for the lakes to be assigned village green status. Npower are fighting the application.

If successful, the status would prevent NPower from dumping ash in the lakes.

The inquiry held by Oxfordshire County Council is expected to last three days, with a final decision due several weeks after its closure.

If the application for village green status is unsuccessful, NPower will be free to go ahead with plans to dump waste ash in the lakes.