THE Green party hopes to save a community club from being sold to developers by appealing to the city council to buy it instead.

In response the council has said it will await a report and has recommended that the site should be confirmed as an asset of community value.

This would mean the sale would be held off for a further six months so community groups would have an opportunity to find a way for it to continue for their own use, instead of being sold.

The Gladiator Sports and Social Club in Iffley Road was put up for sale last month.

The Gladiator site, including the club and two flats, was put on the market by its owner, the Christian charity The Gladiator Trust, for £1.25m.

The Gladiator Club, a separate social club which has more than 450 members, has operated from the site since the 1940s.

Iffley Fields councillors David Williams and Elise Benjamin appealed to Oxford City Council to buy it as they are concerned it could be turned into housing instead of continuing as a site for community use.

Mr Williams said council officers had prepared a report on the building which was being put to the leader of the council, Bob Price.

The two Green councillors believe if the city council bought the site it would be a benefit for the council as it would bring in income and the two flats could be used to add to the housing stock.

Ms Benjamin, former Lord Mayor of Oxford, said: “I am very hopeful that this could happen.

“It has an income and the potential to generate more.”

She said the council was looking at the option seriously and a report had been initiated.

City council leader Bob Price said the council was concerned about the facility’s future and it was unfortunate the trustees had taken the step to sell it.

“Our community team are looking at various alternatives and we are waiting for a report which includes an option of the city council purchasing the site,” he said.

“There is a community need there and we clearly have got to find a solution.”