CITY centre shops have been stormed, the historic Radcliffe Camera occupied and activists have even scaled the roof of David Cameron’s constituency office in the name of this year’s most resounding theme – public protest.

Plans to demolish Temple Cowley Pools, build an Incinerator in Ardley, the Northern Gateway business park at Pear Tree and a high-speed railway line though north Oxfordshire have all provoked opposition.

However, the issues that sparked the biggest campaigns of protests is the Government’s plans to cut £81bn of public spending over four years in an effort to slash the budget deficit and changes to further education.

The wave of action has seen activists wave placards, blow vuvuzelas, dress in suits and bowler hats and build snowmen.

It has also seen students and pensioners brave the cold and march in their hundreds alongside trade unionists and councillors echoing the ‘Winter of Discontent’ of 1978-79.

The movement has even surprised the Oxfordshire president of the National Union of Teachers Gawain Little, who has helped orchestrate many of the marches.

The 30-year-old was previously involved in protest marches against tuition fees as an Oxford University student in 1998 and the city’s protest marches against the Iraq War in 2003.

He said: “When tuition fees were first introduced there were occupations of the Exams Hall in High Street and of the Divinity Schools.

“The run-up to the Iraq War saw larger scale protests, but I would say the protests against cuts have been even broader in terms of the individuals involved.

“The marches have genuinely included people from all walks of life and all parts of Oxfordshire, from teenagers to pensioners.

“That’s because the cuts will affect everybody, whether you’re a library user or visit a youth centre.

“There have been occupations but things have been carried out peacefully.

“We don’t want to alienate anyone from the campaign.”

Jon O’Neill is the chairman of the Ardley Against the Incinerator campaign group, which has fought against Oxfordshire County Council’s plans for a waste burner for the past three years.

He said: “We’re very lucky we live in a democracy.

“It’s great people are able to go out and ask questions, air their opinions and challenge the people elected to make decisions in our best interests.

“I’m not a fan of big marches, but there’s a huge percentage of the residents of Oxfordshire who do it peacefully.

“We have a very historical institution in our city with a famous debating society and that’s why residents in Oxfordshire scream and shout a bit more than others when we think something is wrong.

“I don’t see the point of being rude and forceful though, you should give yourself the upper ground.

“We have been more of a thorn in the council’s side by politely asking three times for a meeting than by having a shouting match.

Despite last year’s series of rallies, both men agree on one thing – there will be even more protests in 2011.