THE probation service last night named 12 alternative sites it is considering for a new base after its controversial West Oxford plan was put on hold.
Campaigners opposed to a probation centre at Trajan House, in Mill Street, West Oxford, welcomed news that the scheme had been put on ice for six weeks.
The Oxford Mail has seen a list of other potential sites which the Thames Valley Probation service had earlier ruled out.
It also emerged a raft of new sites would be considered.
Chief probation officer Gerry Marshall said that the probation service had “revisited its proposals” following a meeting with residents at an open day on Monday at the Town Hall.
He said: “We have revisited the proposals with the Home Office Property General (HOPG), who are responsible for identifying and developing properties for the probation service nationally, and we have had a full meeting of Thames Valley Probation Board, which was addressed by three Mill Street residents.
“In the light of these lengthy discussions, we have made the decision to temporarily freeze negotiations with the developer of Trajan House.
“The purpose of this freeze is to enable agents on behalf of HOPG to thoroughly review all the alternative sites that were initially rejected, and to identify any new ones that have since become available.”
Residents in the Mill Street area are concerned about the impact of 350 criminals, including sex offenders, using the centre and urged the probation service to consider alternative sites.
Father-of-two Dan Rawstorne, 34, of Mill Street, said: “This is a positive development because the probation service is now acknowledging all possible sites need to be looked at.
“I think this is encouraging and vindicates the hard work that campaigners have put in so far to oppose Trajan House because it is in an inappropriate location in a residential area.
“Some of the sites on the list are much closer to the city centre, where the courts and the police station are situated.”
Dr Evan Harris, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, said: “I am delighted that the probation service is now getting into a position where it realises that this (Trajan House) was the wrong place at the wrong time for the wrong price.”
The six-week freeze on the Trajan House plan begins on Friday, June 26, although the service stressed it would “press ahead” with the plan if a better location could not be found.
affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk
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