BANBURY’S Sea Cadets could have to leave their new home unless commuters take up an offer to buy parking spaces.

The TS Harvester unit has been able to meet more regularly to cope with rising demand since moving into the Lower Cherwell Street unit in August.

But it expected to meet most of its annual £20,000 rent by hiring its 20 parking spaces to rail commuters for £15 a week, netting it £15,600.

So far only one space has been taken and organisers fear the unit will have to leave by May if others are not sold.

Unit commander Lieutenant Jon Cox said: “We did a lot of research and the parking was a key part.

“Everyone we spoke to said parking is desperately needed. We had four takers before Christmas but two were made redundant and one left the area.”

Parking at Banbury station is £6.50 a day peak and £4.50 off peak, with season tickets costing £24 a week, £92 a month or £960 a year.

The unit used to be based at the TA centre in Oxford Road, where it could only meet on Mondays and Thursdays.

It moved into the bigger unit, which was given a £9,000 makeover, to get more space and time to devote to training exercises.

The cadets now meet on Monday and Thursday evenings and from 10am-4pm on Sundays. There are 44 members in the group and leaders had to stop recruiting last year as demand rose.

Lt Cox said: “We offer young people activities which support school work, develop their character and teach them about working in the community.”

For information on the parking spaces, available from 6am to 10pm Monday to Saturday, call Lt Cox on 07725 302188 or email unit464@hotmail.com