Proposals for hi-visibility safety jackets at a controversial asylum camp highlight how ill-suited the Oxfordshire venue is, residents warned. The Government plans to hand hi-vis jackets to residents at the former Ministry of Defence camp at Piddington, if they decide to walk along a “death trap” road rather than taking the free bus shuttle to and from the nearest towns.

Ian Darby, 63, a Piddington resident, said it was only one of many reasons the site was ill-suited, speaking to The Telegraph. “If they go wandering, they don’t have pavements on that road,” he said. “It’s very dangerous. The Government says they are going to issue high-vis jackets, but the widest pathway is just one metre. It’s a death trap.”

According to government documents, migrants will be “strongly encouraged” to use the provided shuttle buses, but since authorities have no power to stop people leaving, the vests will be handed out “to further emphasise the potential danger”.

Residents and politicians fighting the plans said this highlights how the camp is on the “wrong site”. The plans in Piddington form part of wider Labour proposals to end the use of migrant hotels.

They have also expressed fears that crime will increase, though officials said there is no evidence to show this will be the case.

Planning documents released by the Home Office last week said the development “aims to be as self-contained as possible with Service Users having access to a range of essential facilities on site”.

“Consequently, the need to travel will be significantly reduced,” the documents said.

Two former military sites are already up and running: RAF Wethersfield in Essex and Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex.