WANTAGE’S former magistrates’ court and police station could be demolished for housing after the site was put up for sale.

But the proposals have drawn opposition, with some councillors stressing that the town needs the right infrastructure first before further homes are built.

The Church Street site, which includes the 1960s police station and court, is on the market for £1m.

And property firm Lambert Smith Hampton is promoting the 0.7 acre plot as a residential development opportunity for 14 houses.

But Wantage town councillor St John Dickson said homes were being built in the town without consideration to infrastructure.

He said: “This is a symbol of infrastructure being replaced by more housing but we need more infrastructure.”

Thames Valley Police last week applied for planning permission to build a new two-storey £1.13m police station at Grove Technology Park which will replace Wantage Police Station by March 2013.

It also applied for a change of use to turn a garage building at Wantage Library in Stirlings Road into a £80,000 counter service.

Vale of White Horse District Council aims to make a decision on the plans by the end of March.

Wantage Magistrates’ Court shut in 2009 and Mr Dickson said homes might as well be built there. But he added: “I am unhappy they are slamming more and more housing in to Wantage without looking at infrastructure.

“The schools are full and the transport is full and still they are slamming in more houses.

“Every time we try to stop it we get shot down by the district council who say we need more houses in the district.”

Jenny Hannaby, Liberal Democrat county councillor for Wantage, said: “Further homes on this site will need more infrastructure.”

She added: “There is no doubt Wantage is a target place for growth. Every square inch will be built on.”

Town mayor Charlotte Dickson said as it was a brownfield site she had no objections to homes being built there.

And deputy mayor Fiona Roper said: “We need houses and it is an ideal location.”

The news comes after a controversial scheme to build 23 homes on an orchard behind Newbury Street was granted planning permission by the Vale council last Wednesday.

Residents objected to Berkeley Homes’ plan over traffic and over- development fears.

A bid by developer John O’Flynn to build up to 18 homes in Manor Road was blocked by the planning committee.