COUNCILLORS will next week be asked to approve a controversial replacement car park to be used if student flats are built in St Clement’s.

An Oxford City Council planning officer has recommended councillors back the plan for Harcourt House in Marston Road, despite 16 objections.

The 50-space car park would be used if planning permission is given to build 141 student flats in three blocks on St Clement’s car park. The £8m plan would see the number of parking spaces cut from 112 to 74.

Objectors said the replacement temporary car park is too far away and was in an “insecure location”.

The planning officers’ report said the council would either install a CCTV camera or patrol the site to tackle the “lack of natural surveillance” and vegetation will be cut back to improve visibility.

The council said Harcourt House is the nearest site it could find.

Alan Grosvenor, who owns Sevenoaks Sound and Vision in St Clement’s Street: “My fear is that the impact will be that a lot of businesses will be harmed irreparably. I believe there will be closures.”

Josh Knight, a partner in fair trade store Indigo, St Clements, said: “The replacement car park is miles away.

“People are going to be put off coming into the area. Businesses are already struggling.”

The council’s east area planning committee consider the temporary car park plan on Wednesday, September 7, at 6pm at Oxford Town Hall. The public are welcome to attend.