ANGRY residents have vowed to fight plans to open a halfway house for criminals and suspects in the heart of an Oxford neighbourhood.

Criminals jailed for burglary, theft and violent attacks – as well as those awaiting trial – could be housed at 30 Headley Way, in Headington, within six weeks.

Last night, neighbours and community leaders branded the plans for the semi-detached house “totally inappropriate”.

Dr Humma Shahid, who works as a consultant at the Oxford Eye Hospital at the John Radcliffe Hospital, lives next door to the property with her young family.

She said: “We are absolutely appalled. We have been told that the hostel could be open in six weeks’ time and there is nothing we can do about it.”

More than 30 people protested outside the building on Saturday and a Facebook group called Stop 30 Headley Way has been launched.

The hostel would be part of the Government’s Bail Accommodation and Support Service, which houses people in single-sex homes while on bail or Home Detention Curfew (HDC) licence when they leave prison.

In 2009, Headington was earmarked as a suitable place for a bail hostel in a leaked Government memo.

Dr Shahid added: “This is a residential area full of families and a totally inappropriate place for this.

“We are going to fight these devastating plans. If they go ahead, I won’t be able to let my children play in the garden.

“This is not a case of ‘not in my backyard’. Headley Way is just entirely the wrong place.”

No person convicted of any crime which falls under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 Schedule Three – including rape, sexual assault and incest – will stay at the hostel.

People under 18 or those deemed a risk to the public are also excluded.

A leaflet send to neighbours suggested there would not be a supervisor living in the house.

Andrew Smith, MP for East Oxford, backed the protesters.

He said: “It is obviously totally the wrong place for this. There are children next door, it is a semi-detached house in an ordinary residential neighbourhood.

“Obviously they have to go somewhere, but in a semi-detached house?

“The main thing is the security. It needs to be in a more detached house and closer to a police station.”

Headington county councillor Altaf Khan also opposed the plans.

He said: “We all appreciate these people need to live somewhere, but this would be a highly inappropriate place to put them.”

The property will be managed by Stonham Services, part of Home housing association.

The not-for profit firm took over the Ministry of Justice contract last June from ClearSprings, which was paid £5.8m in 2008-09 to manage bail accommodation.

Headington estate agent Chancellors helped market the property.

Stonham spokesman Rachel Dunachie said: “We always liaise with the police, probation service, local authorities and immediate neighbours when acquiring new properties.

“We are very happy to meet with neighbours to allay any concerns they may have. Our property is a three-bedroom privately rented house. It is not a hostel.

“We offer private accommodation to people who have not been convicted of an offence and who the courts have decided should be released on bail rather than be needlessly and unjustly held in prison.

“It is also available to prisoners at the end of their sentence who are being released initially on electronic tag. We aim to house people near to their place of work, so that they don’t lose their job, and also close to family, where appropriate.”