POLICE and GP surgeries should stay in their existing homes under new plans for 885 homes in Barton West, council bosses have said.

Oxford City Council said it will work to keep police and Barton Surgery in Barton Neighbourhood Centre, which it owns.

Yet it is also backs the homes plan to include a “community hub” that could have space for police and health services.

Mike Rowley, city council member for Barton and Sandhills, last Wednesday said the council would do everything it could to keep the facilities on the estate.

He said the council also wanted new police and health branches set up within the new development.

He said: “Services have to be provided in the new estate but the older estate shouldn’t lose out because of that.”

Barton West is set to have 885 homes, a new primary school, hotel, supermarket, shops and community space.

Barton Community Association secretary Sue Holden said: “It is great that they have agreed to keep services rather than shift facilities over to the new area and leave us looking like a ghost town.

“What we don’t want is for the existing residents to feel like the poor relation to the new development.”

Barton West will also have a link road for buses between Barton and Northway.

But last week the strategy was criticised by Northway Residents’ Association.

Chairwoman Jane Cox said it would mean Northway was used as a rat-run.