THE long-awaited revival of a fire-ravaged Oxford social club could be jeopardised by plans for garages opposite, it is feared.

Dean Court Social Club leaders say plans for to build five garages opposite will put people off the venue, which has been closed since an arson attack in February 2011.

The club, off Pinnocks Way, Botley, plans to open next year.

As part of the scheme Sovereign Housing Association wants to also refurbish 12 other garages that are not directly opposite.

A planning application has been submitted to Vale of White Horse District Council.

Dean Court Community Association chairman Anna Pearson said members only objected to these five as the other 12 need replacing.

She told the council: “We have in mind an open and welcoming frontage, accessible to all.

“We strongly feel that the construction of five garages across the front of the building will be severely detrimental to the look and feel of the building, the welcoming capacity of the centre and ultimately the success of our community centre project.”

The association is also concerned the five will “create loitering spaces”.

More than £50,000 had been raised to change the centre’s layout to remove “hiding places”, but this would be “completely nullified” by the plan, she warned.

Pinnocks Way resident Nasrin Dabiri told the council: “I strongly believe that they would be a security problem by creating a more dark and lurking space.”

Neighbour Jillian Kearney said the “run-down” garages needed replacing, but the five would “spoil the approach to the centre”.

Association member Priscilla Waugh said: “It would be awful. It would put our whole project in jeopardy.

“Our business plan revolves around making it a really modern, open, welcoming building.

“We don’t want to approach it down an alleyway of garages.”

Sovereign spokesman Roy Probert said: “While we have identified a need for these garages to be built, we are aware that this planning application and the one for the proposed new community centre will impact on each other.

“Our view is that we are still in a period of consultation and we are eager to hear what local residents have to say. We will work with the local community and parish council to try to find a satisfactory outcome.”

The centre will be refurbished and partly rebuilt and work is expected to start by the end of the year for a spring opening.