DEVELOPERS will be able to put up buildings unopposed because Oxford City Council will no longer tell residents through letters, it has been warned.

Due to costs the council will stop sending out letters to let residents know of planning applications near their home.

It sent out 17,753 last year about applications such as extensions and developments. Letters will stop from April, saving the cash-strapped council £45,000 a year.

The council said applications would still be flagged up by public notices and on its website.

But Friends of Old Headington conservation group chairman Sarah King said major applications would be missed when the letters stop.

She said: “There is an assumption nowadays that everyone is capable of going on the internet and they spend all their time on it and they spot everything.

“Thousands of people do not do that.

“The danger is it will be a hell of a job seeing new applications as they come up and you don’t have long to respond.

“You have to be involved otherwise you don’t know what will go on.”

In a statement, the council said: “From April 1, Oxford City Council will no longer be sending out consultation or notification letters by post to individuals or neighbours consulting them on new planning applications or advising respondents when applications are due to be reported to committee or of the planning decision.

“However, the council wants to continue to ensure that neighbours and local groups are made aware of all new planning applications that are received and have an opportunity to comment on them.”

It urged residents to register with its PlanningFinder system, where users register to be told of applications in their area.

Last month, Cherwell District Council announced it was scrapping notification letters to help save the authority £80,000 a year.

For more information visit oxford.gov.uk or call 01865 24981.