A steel and glass car showroom which is no longer used could become Wallingford's next listed building -- but the prospect has sparked a heated debate.

The car showroom, which may be listed

The Twentieth Century Society has the former Jenkins car showroom in High Street, pictured, in its sights for listing, which would put it on a par with the town hall and the town's historic churches.

But the prospect fills mayor-elect Betty Atkins with horror.

She said: "It's unbelievable that anyone could ever consider thinking that building has any architectural or historic merit."

The showroom is threatened with demolition as part of the planned Waitrose supermarket development.

The Twentieth Century Society campaigns for modern buildings to be considered as part of the country's architectural heritage.

The showroom, built in 1961-2, is described as having characteristics of the work of Mies van der Rohe, the pioneer early 20th century architect, who demanded absolute simplicity in his buildings.

Members of the society will visit the site to decide if they think it is worth proposing.

Mrs Atkins added: "I thought this was a joke but it's long past April 1. It's just a totally functional glass box and represents about the worst in 1960s architecture."

Mayor Nigel Moor said: "I'm surprised, but it's in a conservation area and has the right to be considered."

South Oxfordshire District Council conservation officers inspected the building, but thought it had no special merit. If the government-imposed delay on Waitrose receiving planning permission is lifted, the garage could be demolished before the listing process goes through.

Its proposal for listing would not hold up the development by itself.