A BID by Wantage’s convent to bulldoze two homes and a St John Ambulance base to build a 31-home estate is recommended to be approved tonight.

Planning officers at Vale of White Horse District Council have recommended the planning committee to approve the scheme for Naldertown despite 31 objections.

The Community of St Mary the Virgin, which has about 14 sisters, wants to sell the site, and the Grade II listed convent itself, and move to a smaller home out of town.

Objections have come from people who will be forced to move home, other residents and Wantage Town Council.

Gordon and Jane Mercer-Rolls have lived for 30 years in one of the two bungalows to be demolished, but said they were sympathetic to the sisters’ situation.

Mr Mercer-Rolls is a gardener at the convent and Mrs Mercer-Rolls said the sisters had offered to help them find a new home.

She added: “It doesn’t matter where you live, at the end of the day wherever you are you’re just a custodian.

“It’s just unfortunate that if this plan goes ahead our home won’t be left for someone else – it won’t be here.”

Charlotte Bunyard, who lives in the other bungalow to be demolished, said in a letter to the Vale: “It is not necessary to build everywhere. This is a green meadow, wildlife has to live somewhere, and it is important in towns.”

Wantage Town Council said councillors were worried about extra traffic and considered the number of houses proposed an overdevelopment of the site.

St John Ambulance Wantage unit manager Alan Weir said: “We are looking for an alternative venue, but are giving some consideration to what we need from new premises. Once we’ve established the requirements, we hope to be able to narrow down our search .”

The Vale planning committee will meet to make a decision on the application at The Beacon, Wantage, from 6.30pm.