A community has made a £1m bid for a site near the Oxford Canal, writes RoseenaParveen.

The Jericho Canalside Development Group, a consortium of Jericho Community Association, St Barnabas Church and local businesses has bid for more than an acre of land between St Barnabas Church in Barnabas Street and the canal.

The move is backed by Oxford City and Oxfordshire County Councils and Oxford University.

The group wants the land in the Victorian suburb - owned by British Waterways - for community use. It plans a purpose-built community centre, a cycle route from north Oxford to the train station, a restaurant, a boatyard and workshops - all set in a new public square around the church.

Some private and social housing is also proposed.

The CDG hopes that its plans to sell private housing and some student rooms will help finance the bid, alongside donations from the groups involved and fundraising events. The community centre should be self-financing.

The land forms part of the Oxford canal corridor, which has undergone intensive housing development in recent years - something Jericho residents are fighting.

Colin Cook, city councillor for Oxford West, said: "Jericho residents have exactly the right idea. What we need here is a more interesting mixed development." George Taylor, vice-chairman of The Jericho Community Association, said: "This is a wonderful chance to do something in Jericho to provide excellent community facilities in the best place for them."

"We must make use of it now. We don't want this land to go to an entirely private venture, which is highly likely to end with yet more houses built on it.

"There's a lot happening on the canal corridor at the moment. This is something different - a community-based development which is much more preferable."

Fr Michael Wright, vicar at St Barnabas, said: "We're looking for something altogether more imaginative and valuable to the community."

Stuart Mills, British Waterways' regional commercial manager, said a decision was expected soon. He said: "British Waterways is a public corporation which owns more than 2,000 miles of waterways throughout Britain, and some adjacent land.

"We are charged with securing best value for our property assets. We do not have a statutory responsibility to the community as such. Ultimately We must do whatever is the best for our canal system. That is our raison d'etre."

Story date: Monday 21 February

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