Nearly £160,000 of public money has been "wasted" fighting a legal battle to build social houses on Oxford's Trap Grounds.

The Oxford Mail can today reveal that Oxford City Council spent £159,513 on its failed legal bid for permission to build 45 affordable homes on the North Oxford land.

Late last month the House of Lords delivered a 62-page ruling on the future of the land near Port Meadow, stating campaigners could now apply to register it as a town green on the basis that it had been used for recreation for more than 20 years.

But the long-running saga is not yet over.

If County Hall decides to register the Trap Grounds as a town green the game is up for the city council.

Since 2002 Oxford City Council has spent the following on fighting the Trap Grounds battle: Public inquiry (2002/3) - £11,500 High Court hearing (2004) - £37,650 Petition to House of Lords - £7,100 Court of Appeal hearing (2005) - £37,263 House of Lords hearing (2006) - £59,000 Additional disbursements (court fees, agents etc) - £7,000.

Independent Working Class Association city councillor Claire Kent said: "We are sure this will madden Oxford's taxpayers, who will of course be footing the bill.

"This money didn't need to be spent.

"We were against it because we didn't feel it was a very suitable place for social housing because it's a floodplain."

Under the 1965 Commons Registration Act, land has to be used for 20 years by a significant number of people for lawful sports and pastimes.

The complex case is expected to act as a precedent for other town green registration battles across the country.

In March 2005 Court of Appeal judge Lord Justice Carnwarth backed the city council.

But pressure group the Friends of the Trap Grounds took the case to the House of Lords.

A city council spokesman said: "The application to register the Trap Grounds is with the county council.

"The county council are to determine that application and will need to do so in light of the House of Lords judgement.

"The city council is awaiting their decision."

Howard Perkins, the county council's chief solicitor, said officers were awaiting a ruling on what action the council should take, based on the Law Lords' judgement.

He added: "When it comes in, it will be considered by the planning and regulation committee."