CONSULTANTS are to be paid £30,000 to come up with the latest plan for the future of Bicester’s Garth House.

Bicester Town Council, in partnership with Cherwell District Council, has appointed consultants C Harris to come up with proposals for how the former mansion house in Launton Road could be redeveloped.

In the past eight years plans for the building, the home of the council, have sparked controversy after some councillors admitted they wanted the house demolished.

But town and district councillor Debbie Pickford said the slate had effectively been wiped clean and the consultants had been asked to come up with viable options.

A brief of what should be at the site includes a multi-purpose hall/cultural centre that could seat up to 300 people, offices for the town council and a home for the outreach centre, Citizens’ Advice Bureau and the registrar.

The business plan is expected to take several months to draw up and then proposals will go out to public consultation.

Miss Pickford said: “We don’t know how it will fit in at this stage.

“What we don’t want is a white elephant that we can’t hire out or is not used to its full potential.

“Until we get the business case and see how it stacks up we don’t know what will happen. But there isn’t an option to do nothing.”

Garth House, which was donated to the town in 1947, has no official architectural or historic importance.

Some town councillors wanted to see it demolished.

Several years ago it sparked controversy when it was labelled a “white elephant” due to the high cost in repairs.

Councillors say the building is in a poor state of repair and parts cannot be used because it is wet.

Town and district council labour leader Les Sibley said: “I hope this council gets it right this time.

“I am as anxious as everyone else for the Garth House project to come to fruition.

“But I think people will question the use of taxpayers’ money to hire consultants again.

“Once the outcome of this latest report is known I will be calling for a referendum to give the people of Bicester a chance to have their say because at the end of the day it was left in trust to the town.”