A move is under way to secure the ancient monuments at the Oxford prison site for the people of the city.

Oxford Preservation Trust wants to become the guardian of the Norman and Saxon buildings after a controversial decision to turn the former prison into a hotel.

There has been mounting concern about what will happen to a major part of Oxford's heritage once the site is handed over to developers.

Now the trust will ask Oxfordshire county council, the owner of the site, to allow it to take over the historic treasures. Under the plan, the trust would take possession of the Norman castle mound, which dates from 1071, and the 11th-century St George's Tower, one of the largest secular Saxon buildings in Britain. It would also take charge of the 18th-century debtors' tower and the whole D wing of the prison, including the Norman St George's chapel crypt below.

With the hotel development rubber-stamped by councillors, the trust believes it could restore public confidence in the long-term future of the buildings.

Secretary Debbie Dance said the plan that had been agreed at a meeting of the OPT trustees would almost certainly involve a major public appeal to pay for the maintenance of the buildings and improve public access. She said: "These buildings are an important part of our city's heritage. We want to secure them for the people of Oxford."

She said it was too early to say whether the trust would have to buy the buildings in view of the fact that significant sums would be needed for restoration work.

The county council had acquired the site from the Home Office for only £9,000 in 1996.

Mrs Dance added: "We will meet officers and councillors at the end of January.

"The idea is exciting, but there is a long way to go. The council has already said there is no choice about the hotel." The trust owns 350 acres of green-belt land, including the Dreaming Spires view from Boar's Hill. But the prison site would become the largest collection of historic buildings under its control.

Neil Monaghan, the county's chief property officer, said the council favoured the idea of seeing part of the site managed by a charitable trust.

He said: "We need to talk to establish whether this is the right thing for the trust and the council."

Story date: Saturday 18 December

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