LANDOWNERS hit out at plans to enshrine their fields as protected "green open spaces" in the final draft of the Wantage Neighbourhood Plan at a public hearing in the town yesterday.

The plan's authors want to designate protected private and public green spaces.

Government planning inspector John Parminter held the session to assess whether the plan is sound.

Planning agent Lois Partridge, of Carter Jonas estate agents, spoke on behalf of Charlton landowner David Castle and said the land known as "Castle's Wood", was essentially his back garden.

She told the inspector: "There is no public access to the site... it isn't used by anyone else and no one else, as far as I'm aware, could even be aware of it."

The hearing finished yesterday and will aim to send a revised version of the plan by August.