A group is calling for Oxford Town Hall to be turned into a concert and conference centre, writes Mark Templeton.

Headington Forum has written to Oxford's Lord Mayor, Cllr Maureen Christian, and the Oxford Civic Society, asking for their views on the idea.

Nicholas Newman, who chairs the group of residents and edits a local newsletter, says a city like Oxford, which stages around 200 concerts and conferences a year, should have a dedicated centre.

The group is also proposing that a new centre be built on the Oxpens site. He said: "Oxford does not have the modern large-scale facilities and is often ignored.

"If the town hall location is chosen, then it is suggested that the local government functions be relocated to a new site."

Cllr David Penwarden, who chairs the city council's civic and property sub-committee, said he did not think the idea was viable.

He said: "We already stage conferences and concerts in the town hall, but I would rather keep it for the community groups who couldn't afford to pay the fees in a commercial hall.

"Oxford does lack a stand-alone centre, but conferences are big business for some of the colleges here." He added: "I don't believe turning the town hall into a conference centre is a good idea and I can't see how moving local government outside the city centre would benefit the public."