University chiefs need to urgently reconsider £29m plans for a book bank in Osney Mead, Oxford, a councillor has said.

Paul Sargent has demanded a rethink following the devastating floods - the worst since 1947 - which hit the area last month.

The ambitious scheme to store books in a new building is due to be considered by the council's planning committee next month.

Mr Sargent, a councillor for Carfax ward, decided to speak out after seeing the piles of sandbags at Seacourt park and ride.

He said: "These sandbags are a reminder that due to climate change these flooding incidents are likely to occur on a much more regular basis.

"We have had about three major incidents in the last 10 years and I think the book depository in Osney Mead would be one major building too many for this part of the city.

"Oxford University definitely needs help from the local authorities to find somewhere suitable to store its books, but I don't think this is the right location because of the flooding risk.

"If climate change has the impact people say it is going to have, then at some point we will have to think about evacuating Botley.

"The water has to go somewhere and if people are constantly being flooded then you have to either adapt the buildings or level them."

Earlier this month, the university postponed the application for the flood-resistant storage depository until the Environment Agency compiled a report on the flooding.

It is understood agency staff want to examine whether the large structure might increase flood risk to other premises on the Osney Mead industrial estate.

Oxford Preservation Trust is also planning to oppose the university's plans, claiming the building will have a devastating effect on views of Oxford's dreaming spires.

The book depository planning application is due to be discussed by councillors on September 26.

The university said the depository, which would hold almost eight million books, would be protected by a 2.2m-high flood defence wall.

Ruth Collier, a spokesman for Oxford University, said the planning application was going ahead.

She said: "The area concerned was untouched by the floods, and flood defences are a huge part of the proposal."