A NEW attempt to turn the old Wantage Police Station into a care home is “incredibly frustrating”, a councillor has said.

After an initial plan to build 44 retirement flats on the site was rejected, Thames Valley Police (TVP) are understood to have given a second developer first refusal.

But Wantage Town and Vale of White Horse District councils want to buy the former station and magistrates’ court and demolish it to provide “vital” parking spaces.

Town and Vale councillor St John Dickson, chairman of the town Joint Economic Forum, said: “It is incredibly frustrating.

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“As the town expands we need to keep our commercial centre vibrant.

“There is already a lack of parking in the town for workers so it is vital we find more spaces.”

The site was worth about £1m, he said, and the town council hoped the Vale would invest and run the car park for profit.

Police left the station in March 2013, moving to Grove Technology Park. The force exchanged contracts with Hampshire firm Churchill Retirement Living to buy the building, subject to obtaining planning permission.

But the firm’s plan for retirement apartments was refused by the Vale’s head of planning and then, after the firm appealed against the decision, by a planning inspector.

Both said the planned building was not in keeping with the Wantage Conservation Area and did not provide enough parking or affordable housing.

Mr Dickson said the council asked TVP to be told if negotiations with Churchill were severed, and was disappointed to find out last month the force had already given first refusal to the new firm.

TVP spokeswoman Connie Primmer said the force was in “advanced discussions” with a party looking to redevelop the site for residential use.

She added: “We anticipate being in a position to finalise contracts shortly and expect the developer will submit their planning application shortly afterwards.”

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