RESIDENTS have promised a legal battle ahead of a public meeting to fight plans for a probation centre in a quiet Oxford street.

The Ministry of Justice is in talks to lease Trajan House in Mill Street for a centralised office as part of sweeping cuts and restructuring of Oxfordshire’s probation service.

It will not require planning permission but faces what campaigners last night claimed was unanimous opposition from residents and businesses.

About 1,000 names have been collected on a petition against the proposal.

Residents of Mill Street fear if the centre gets is approved as many as 350 criminals, including sex offenders and people convicted of domestic abuse, will be visiting their street every week.

A meeting to launch the legal battle will be held at the Railway Club, in Mill Street, on Saturday from 4.30pm.

Father-of-two Matthew Savage, 37, of Barrett Road, said the campaign had the support of almost every home in the area.

He said: “There is pretty much uniform opposition because there cannot be many more than 1,000 people living around here. Virtually everyone says it’s not a suitable location. We’ve got unanimous support.”

Thames Valley Probation Service last night promised to meet local MPs to discuss the plans and has not ruled out meeting with angry residents.

Mr Savage added: “We’ve been told informally the probation service do not consider the Mill Street location to be ideal but it is their only option.

“We would encourage them to explore other options and more suitable premises not so close to homes and schools.

“We are prepared for a long fight and we are prepared to use all legal tools at our disposal.

“I understand we need a probation service but they are planning to locate it in a residential area away from the courts, police and support services, outside the city centre in an area where we have 50 children aged under 11.

“It’s simply a decision which has been taken by financial considerations rather than strategic thinking.”

Mr Savage said he would not divulge the legal options at the campaign group’s disposal.

The plans are also opposed by Oxford West and Abingdon MP Evan Harris.

The central probation centre would accommodate 100 staff.

Signatures from Westgate Hotel, local schools and nurseries, West Oxford Community Centre, shops and residents have been added to the petition.

Gerry Marshall, Thames Valley Probation’s chief officer, said: “We have written to Dr Harris asking him for a meeting as soon as possible. We are waiting to hear back from him.

“At the meeting, we’ll go through all the issues and what the proposals for the Mill Street site would be. We will discuss the concerns raised and do our best to address them.

“In addition, we have written to all other Thames Valley MPs, inviting them to meetings with us to discuss this issue and any other issues of concern.

“We are doing our best to engage with residents, through their elected representatives at this stage and, hopefully, with groups of residents at a later stage.”

mwilkinson@oxfordmail.co.uk