Putting a national water museum in the centre of Wallingford would cause total traffic chaos, a district councillor has warned, writes Ian Townsend.

Ann Ducker said that to convert the town centre post office into a Water Discovery Centre would stifle the town with an overwhelming amount of traffic.

"I support the regeneration of Wallingford 100 per cent, but this is not the way to do it," she said.

But members of South Oxfordshire District Council western area planning committee backed the scheme by just one vote. Members argued that the Water Environment Trust should be given planning permission for the centre, even though it is unlikely ever to be built.

The post office has been bought by Waitrose, and the Trust said the company has urged it to look for other sites.

But the permission means that if the Trust can get the post office within the next five years, it can develop it as a Water Discovery Centre.

The Trust predicts around 30,000 paying visitors a year, 10,000 of whom will be from schools and colleges.

A total of 5,000 would be expected to arrive by rail, bus or river, and the rest in an average of 20 cars a day. Mrs Ducker said the centre would be better based at the water sciences complex at Howbery Park in Crowmarsh.

Wallingford member Alec Hayton said: "This should be allowed to go ahead."

Chairman John Stimson said: "This is something we should be supporting.

"The traffic will increase, but it will increase anyway, so that is no reason to stop this development from going ahead if it can."

The planners say there can be no opening to the public until some provision is made for coach parking.