CAMPAIGNERS against plans for a “super” probation centre in Oxford are claiming a partial victory after county council plans to move its youth offending service to the same site were scrapped.

Oxfordshire County Council was considering moving its youth crime prevention service from its current base in the Westgate shopping centre to a planned new probation centre in Mill Street, West Oxford.

However, the authority has now ruled out moving the service – which is visited by fewer than 50 offenders a week – because the rent being charged for the new building is too expensive.

The news comes after a pledge by Minister of Justice David Hanson to look at alternative sites for the new probation centre.

After a meeting last week, Oxford West and Abingdon MP Dr Evan Harris said Mr Hanson had agreed to start a new search for a different site for the centre in Oxford.

The probation service is now to reconsider sites it had previously ruled out.

Father-of-two Dan Rawstorne, 34, from Mill Street, said: “It’s positive and encouraging news the county council think it’s too expensive to move here.

“They also recognise the strength of the local campaign which is extremely positive.

“With this decision the probation service are left without a willing sub-let.

“If it’s too expensive for the county council I can’t see how the probation service can proceed with this and assure the taxpayer it is good value for money.

“It’s a small victory and it vindicates the strength and depth of our campaign.

“However there still remains the proposal for sex offenders and other serious offenders to walk through a residential street.”

The service wants to merge existing probation centres in Oxford city centre and Cowley, in Abingdon and Banbury, into one site to cut costs.

Mill Street residents are worried about the impact of more than 300 criminals, including some sex offenders, regularly walking to the centre at Trajan House and 1,400 people have signed a petition against the plans.

The council had intended to relocate its youth offending service by autumn 2008 because of the proposed demolition of the Westgate Centre.

Although the £330m redevelopment has been delayed, the council still wants to move its service as soon as an appropriate new site is found.

A council spokesman said: “One of these options was for co-location with the probation service in Mill Street in West Oxford, an option which would have had advantages from the service's point of view.

“However, this option is now being ruled out because it is too expensive. The council is obviously also aware of the local campaign.”

Mr Hanson said: “There is no suggestion that a new search will be commenced.

“However, we will continue to examine sites in Oxford and have agreed to look into those suggested within the required timescale.”

cwalker@oxfordmail.co.uk