Ordinary citizens have been urged to get involved to make sure that the Oxford prison and castle site is redeveloped in the best possible way.

A series of criticisms of details of the controversial scheme - and the choice of architect - were raised at a public meeting in the Town Hall last night.

The Oxford Prison site

It was attended by 50 members of the public and representatives of civic groups. It had been called by the city council to gauge reactions to the development.

Edwin Townsend-Coles, a former chairman of the Oxford Civic Society, urged caution in deciding details of the scheme.

He said: "It's up to us, the citizens of Oxford and Oxfordshire, to decide what happens to this site.

"The bulk of the buildings are going to be turned into a luxury-class hotel, and that is going to be something for the few, not something that ordinary people will be going into.

"We now have a chance to reassert ourselves, stop and have another think."

Site owners Oxfordshire County Council and the developers, the Osborne Group, have applied for permission to convert the historic site into a hotel and leisure complex.

The £18m scheme includes a new 74-bedroomed hotel, museum, restaurants, shops and a leisure centre.

The Oxford Civic Society, the Oxford Preservation Trust and other groups raised objections over the demolition of the Warden's House and Pratten building, which overlooks New Road.

The need for four more food and drink outlets so close to the city centre was also questioned. There was also unease that the application failed to give sufficient prominence to the historic Castle Mound and the 12th century St George's Tower. The fact that the architect behind the project is Sir Jeremy Dixon, who designed the much-criticised Said Business School building in Park End Street, prompted further concern.

The scheme is due to go before city planning committee members on May 21. The developers are keen to get permission by the end of the month so they can benefit from a £3m South East England Development Agency grant.