A £30,000 report on the future of Bicester’s historic Garth House has been drawn up, but you won’t be able to read it for at least two months.

Earlier this year Bicester Town Council commissioned consultants C Harris to come up with proposals for how the former mansion house in Launton Road could be redeveloped.

This week the council’s Garth House working party were given copies of the report, which included recommendations from the consultants.

But residents will not be allowed to see any details of what the report contains until January 23 at the earliest – more than two months away.

The Oxford Mail was also refused a copy of the report until the policy meeting when “councillors will debate” its contents.

Garth House, which is home to the town council, the outreach centre, Citizens’ Advice Bureau and the registrar, has recently been listed as a building of historic local interest and Garth Park is included in the conservation area.

The future of the building has been a hot topic in the town for nearly a decade and sparked controversy after demolishing the house was mooted.

Opposition leader Les Sibley said: “There is no reason why the report should not be available to the public and press. It was not deemed confidential and is an important issue for the town.

“We all knew we were going to have a final report. I accept it should go to councillors first to look at.

“But it was due to come before the policy committee after being discussed at the working party on Monday, and then the plug was pulled.”

John Broad, local member for CPRE and local campaigner, said: “I can understand where the council is coming from that it needs to look at it first.

“But I can’t understand why there is such a delay. This has been going on for years and while they dither, the building is falling apart.”

James Porter, Conservative leader, pledged there will be a public consultation over the house’s future.

He said: “The report has not been debated by any councillors. It was the subject of a conversation in a working party which is a closed meeting. At the next policy committee meeting we will have a full and open debate in the public view so the councillors can then make their decision.

“The decision will be formed by that consultant’s report and many other things as well.”