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 accommodate rising demand since moving into the Lower Cherwell Street unit in August.

But it expected to meet the annual £20,000-a-year 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 group 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.”

He said: “We had four takers before Christmas but two were made redundant and one left the area.”

The unit was previously based at the TA centre in Oxford Road, where it could only meet on Monday and Thursdays from 7pm to 9pm.

It moved into the bigger unit to get more space and time to devote to training exercises like navigation and meteorology.

The unit got a £9,000 makeover and is now mostly used Mondays and Thursdays from 7pm to 10pm and 10am to 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.”

He said the premises could be used for weekend events that attract cadets from Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire to use Bodicote Reservoir.

Lt Cox said: “We are doing okay as a unit, it’s just we can’t sell these spaces to pay the rent.”

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

For information on the spaces, available from 6am to 10pm Monday to Saturday, call Lt Cox on 07725 302 188 or email unit464@hotmail.com