MORE than 100 people have donated about £2,500 to fight plans for a £100m redevelopment of Botley’s West Way shopping centre.

West Way Community Concern (WWCC) group also gained about 800 signatures since it began this month.

The cash will go on posters, leaflets, expert planning advice and possible future legal advice.

Doric Properties wants to build a cinema, restaurants, supermarket, health centre and 600 student flats by flattening the land, including Elms Parade and the Botley Library building.

A new library, community hall and church would be built as part of the development.

A planning application is expected to be submitted to Vale of White Horse District Council next month.

Campaign group spokesman Chris Church said: “We have been astonished and humbled by the level of support.

“Many of the donations have come in from people who we know to be on low fixed incomes, but who care passionately about not losing their neighbourhood.”

He said: “This is not just about a huge and inappropriate development, not just about air pollution and congestion in our streets. It’s about our community.”

A public meeting will be held by WWCC tonight at 7pm in St Peter and St Paul Church in Botley.

Speakers include Jane Baldwin, from the Oxford Preservation Trust, and Arthur Howse, from the Howse family trust that owns Elms Parade.