Security was called after officials approved plans for a contentious new bridge in the city against the wishes of objectors who believe it would ruin the natural area.

Committee members at an Oxford City Council planning meeting on Tuesday night gave the green light to the Oxpens River Bridge which will link Osney Mead to Oxpens, the site of a new Oxford quarter.

Oxford Mail: City council planning meeting.City council planning meeting. (Image: Noor Qurashi.)

Some questioned the need for an additional bridge at the Grandpont Nature Reserve when there was already one "two-minutes away" and suggested it would "trash" the local habitat.

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Objector Dan Glazebrook said his mother, who was unable to attend the meeting, had lived in the area since the 1970s.

Oxford Mail: Oxpens River Bridge CGI.Oxpens River Bridge CGI. (Image: Oxford City Council)

He read out a statement from her in the meeting which said: "What was completely left out of the planning statement was the impact on us - the local residents - the people who actually use and love Grandpont Nature Park.

"This place is so important.

"We have a little bit of countryside here on our doorstep.

"One day when we were tree guarding, we counted over 500 people on our favourite stretch of the path where there are trees on either side and you can feel you're in a wood.

"This is the part that would be destroyed almost entirely by the bridge."

Mr Glazebrook was later escorted out by security from the public gallery when he questioned claims made by a councillor on the planning committee.

Oxford Mail: Marked trees.Marked trees. (Image: Contribution.)

Campaigner Deborah Glass Woodin said: "The park belongs to Oxford residents.

"This bridge proposal was not consulted on in formative stages."

Anna Railton, who is councillor for the Hinksey Park ward south of the bridge, spoke out as a speaker at the meeting in favour of the plans.

She said: "There are things that are not ideal such as the width of the bridge and the tree removal is not perfect.

"But there are things to be said in its favour.

Oxford Mail: Anna Railton.Anna Railton. (Image: Oxford City Council.)

"It has been well-designed and it does unlock housing on Osney Mead and gives those residents active travel choices into town.

"This housing is still housing and will bring public benefit to Oxford."

The housing referred to is graduate, post-doc and staff facilities which would be located at the linking Oxpens site.

Edward Mundy, councillor for the Hollywell ward, questioned the need for the bridge when there was another 'gasworks bridge' two-minutes away.

Oxford Mail: To receive the chop.To receive the chop. (Image: Contribution.)

Officers responded by saying consideration had been given to this idea but that it lay below the required level to comply with flood needs.

The application was passed with five councillors approving, two refusing and one abstaining.

This follows claims the council had acted "illegally" by beginning to fell the trees without planning permission or a license.

A city council spokesman had said: "A licence is required to remove more than 5m3 of timber, although there are exemptions.

"A representative from the Forestry Commission has confirmed that works completed to date are not considered to exceeded this, but they said removing more trees could require a licence."