A FORMER school chapel looks set to be converted into an NHS dentists, scuppering hopes of it being used for a community arts centre.

Rodericks Ltd is in the process of buying the Grade II listed St Mary’s Chapel in Wantage from developers Berkeley Homes to turn it into a practice serving up to 8,000 patients.

It is a blow for an alternative plan to turn the chapel – formerly part of bulldozed St Mary’s School – into a performing arts centre for the community.

That idea was yesterday backed by Wantage MP and Culture Secretary Ed Vaizey – but the NHS said the surgery plan was vital to ensure better access to dental services.

Wantage businessmen Andrew Burford and David Tinker, who put forward the alternative bid, hit out.

Mr Burford said: “If they let it through it would be a travesty. My appeal to Rodericks is to step aside and let us do something good for the community and that the community wants.”

He said the Vale of White Horse District Council – which must approve the dentists – should reject it.

Mr Tinker added: “Some people feel very strongly about what happened to the school, and we are now gathering momentum.”

Mr Vaizey said: “I do not want to stand in the way of a new dentists but I do think it would be great if Berkeley Homes could consider donating the site to the community as there are people that could make it an effective resource for Wantage.”

He said he was to meet the company to raise the issue.

Rodericks director Carlos Clark said the company had been working with the council adding: “At the end of the day the building is going to be used and an NHS dental practice provides a community based practice for everyone.”

Rodericks is the preferred contractor to provide NHS dentistry for the county’s primary care trust NHS Oxfordshire.

A recent report to the authority said Wantage and Grove had one of the lowest levels of NHS dental services in Oxfordshire.

No-one was available to comment at Berkeley Homes.