More than 50 residents attended a public meeting called in a bid to save two historic hotels in west Oxford.

The River Hotel in Botley Road, Oxford

Christ Church - the second wealthiest of the Oxford University colleges - owns the freeholds of the Westgate and River hotels, in Botley Road, and wants to demolish them to make way for a new hotel and riverside flats.

It has submitted a planning application to the city council, which is expected to be considered early next year by the central, south and west area committee or the strategic development control committee.

On Tuesday night, (Nov 23) residents met at West Oxford Community Centre to voice their concerns. The event was organised by Jericho and Osney ward Labour councillor Susanna Pressel.

Pat Jones, joint proprietor of the River Hotel, said: "We received a lot of support from local residents and councillors.

"My lease ends in 2006, but I do not appreciate being forced out in this way.

"The River Hotel is peculiar and unique and is a building of character.

"If it is demolished it will be replaced with something characterless and that could be the thin end of the wedge.

"The two hotels combined have 39 rooms and Christ Church is putting forward plans that will only provide 35 rooms."

Anne Devlin, proprietor of the Westgate Hotel, which also houses a convenience store, said: "Christ Church are perfectly in their rights to do this, but these two buildings are historic and it's a shame that they could be demolished.

"The new shop will be just a quarter of the size and will be in Mill Street, not on the corner of Botley Road."

Christ Church treasurer Hugh Richardson was not available for comment yesterday.