COUNCIL staff should move to Howbery Park to keep traders afloat after arson left South Oxfordshire District Council’s headquarters uninhabitable, a councillor said.

After the fires gutted the Crowmarsh Gifford offices on January 15 last year about 400 staff from SODC and Vale of White Horse District Council relocated Milton Park, near Didcot.

But since the move, Wallingford traders have suffered from falling business. prompting a local councillor to call for action to help them.

Elaine Hornsby, district councillor for Wallingford, spoke after council leader John Cotton said he thought a return to the council’s former Benson Lane base was unlikely.

Ms Hornsby, who represents traders’ group Wallingford in Business, and runs First Edition clothing boutique, said if council staff did not go back then Howbery Park business park next door should be viewed as an alternative.

She said: “There is no doubt that council staff moving out of the area has had an impact on businesses. They used to walk over the bridge from Crowmarsh into Wallingford and visit the sandwich bars and delis. Traders have seen a difference in takings .

“Howberry Park is a lovely site and I don’t think it should be ruled out as an option at this stage.

“Wallingford had other challenges last year including the temporary closure of Pettits and we are still working to get the old Waitrose site filled .”

Will Patterson, 26, who works at The Old Post Office pub and restaurant in St Martin’s Street, said: “We used to joke that this place was the second office of SODC – staff used to come in for lunch and get their laptops out .”

Caroline Musgrove, who works at Bloomers cafe in St Martin’s Street, added: “The more people there are coming into the town centre the better. I would like the council workers back.”

Howbery Park has been used for some SODC meetings and is home to a number of organisations including the Environment Agency. Planning permission has been given for further development.

Mr Cotton said a formal decision had not yet been made but it was unlikely SODC would return to its former HQ.

Leaders were now considering a different kind of building closer to Didcot, although Howbery Park was an option.