PROTESTERS have welcomed Justice Secretary Jack Straw’s pledge to raise their concerns about a proposed probation centre in Oxford within his ministry.

There is mounting concern over a proposed probation super-centre, in Mill Street, off Botley Road, as part of a centralisation scheme for the service, which will deal with many of the county’s offenders.

More than 50 campaigners greeted Mr Straw as he arrived at Magdalen College on Thursday night, and called for the Government to intervene to get the plan dropped.

Thames Valley Probation Service is in talks with landlords over a lease for Trajan House, in a move which has sparked outrage from nearby residents.

Many are worried about the potential impact of about 350 criminals – including sex offenders and those with convictions for violence – walking along Mill Street to reach the centre.

Mr Straw did not dodge the crowd and spent about 10 minutes talking to the campaigners before he met members of the Oxford University Labour Club at the college.

He told them: “I know Mill Street and I understand your concerns. To clear up the confusion, this is an office – it’s not the same as a probation hostel.

“If it was, we would have to be much more careful. Inevitably, wherever you put the office, there will be someone against it.”

Mr Straw, who listened to campaigners for 10 minutes, also pointed to concerns over a similar plan in his Blackburn parliamentary constituency.

He promised to raise the issue with Justice Minister David Hanson and the chief probation officer for the county.

But he added: “What I do not promise to do is get directly involved in decisions that should be taken locally.”

He was applauded by the group of protesters who had gathered in Long Wall Street, outside one of the college entrances.

The Mill Street plan is part of a wider scheme to modernise the county’s probation service, which would involve the closure of probation centres in Abingdon, Banbury and the centre of Oxford.

If the lease negotiations are concluded successfully, the centre, which would house 100 staff , could open next April.

Critics of the scheme, who include the current Lord Mayor of Oxford, Susanna Pressel, who is one of the Mill Street area’s councillors, are angry that the scheme does not need planning permission.

Anne James, of Barrett Street, said the plans were not only opposed by residents but also by people on probation.

She said: “We’ve been talking to people and they don’t want to be walking down a residential street.

“They want to be in the middle of a busy place, where they can be afforded some anonymity.”

Mother-of-two Fran Melvin, added: “I’m quite happy to say I don’t want it in my backyard, because I don’t think it should be in any backyard.

“It should be in the city, near to the courts and the police station.”

Matthew Savage, also from Barrett Street, said: “We’re very pleased that Jack Straw is prepared to talk to David Hanson and the head of probation services.

“We hope that he conveys the strength of feeling and concerns about putting the probation centre in the Trajan House site.”

Brendan Carter, 62, who has lived in Mill Street for 36 years, said he was disappointed that the community had not been consulted.

He said: “They haven’t told anyone what’s going on, they have just pulled the wool over our eyes.”

* The Thames Valley Probation Service has moved to reassure Mill Street residents about the planned centre.

Graham McCartney, the assistant chief probation officer for Oxfordshire, believes offending will not increase around the proposed centre.

See Monday’s Oxford Mail for a full interview with Mr McCartney about the service’s plans.