A controversial scheme, which would see an historic prison site turned in a hotel, offices and a restaurant, has been approved by county councillors.

But the Oxford project, which has been criticised for lacking imagination, sparked bitter opposition from some members of the county's strategy and resources committee.

The county council had drawn up two schemes for the city centre site with its consortium partners the Norwegian ship building firm Kvaerner Construction and estate agents King Sturge.

Both schemes included shops, cafes, a restaurant, a hotel and a health club.

Option A was centred on the former prison site and nearby buildings, while option B - the scheme favoured by most of those involved in public consultation - offered a far more ambitious project, which would see the new county hall buildings pulled down.

However the county council's strategy and resources committee was told yesterday that option B was now unlikely to meet the requirements of English Heritage and was not viable. Option A was chosen. John Steane, of Oxford Architectural and Historical Society, told of his disappointment. He said: "By making commercial concerns paramount, they are diminishing the architectural value of the building."

Debbie Dance, of the Oxford Preservation Trust, argued that the historical significance of the prison site was being overlooked.

She said: "It cannot be right to rush into a decision with developers when so little detail is known about the plans for the site."

Fiona Campbell (Lab) called for the county council to delay making a decision for six months, while alternative uses, which would give wider access to the public were explored.

She told the committee: "These proposals show a lack of vision and a complete inability to learn the lessons of the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties. I think we need to ask ourselves what was the point in acquiring this site if we were just going to hand it back to commercial developers.

"We've a chance to turn a very exciting vision into a reality and we should not throw it away for short term expediency."

But her motion was defeated by the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives.

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