A ROW has broken out over a decision to close Wantage Civic Hall when it is not being used for bookings.

The Vale of White Horse District Council is trying to stem annual losses of £215,000 at the hall, in Portway.

Users and councillors have hit out at the decision – and Wantage MP Ed Vaizey has vowed to raise the issue in Parliament.

Wantage mayor Patrick O’Leary said: “The district council is closing the hall through stealth.

“We are continually reassured the hall will not close and then something like this happens.

“It makes you very apprehensive about its future.

“The Local Services Point is to close in March; why can’t it be moved into the hall?

“People go into the hall to make their bookings, but with no one there what will they do?”

The hall used to be open from 8.30am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 9am-1pm on Sundays.

Patsy Jones, secretary of Wantage Art Group, which uses the hall each month, said: “The closure will make it very difficult.

“People will not know when the hall is open so won’t be able to make bookings.

“I think it’s sad. Wantage used to have a social services office, register office and magistrates’ court and now we’re losing all that.

“It’s as if the place is being gutted, and just before thousands of people are set to move into the area.”

Vale council spokesman Gavin Walton said: “The idea is to operate opening and closing times in the same way that we have been running at the Abingdon Guildhall for the last year, where the building will open and close depending on bookings received.”

He said this would result in reduced operating costs when the hall was closed, although savings could not be predicted as this would depend on the level of bookings.

Mr Vaizey said: “The Vale has effectively abandoned Wantage and the villages.

“The situation is now so serious I intend to raise it in Parliament.”