Sir, I was very disappointed to read in your letters page that the council’s bid to buy the site of the police station and the magistrates court has somehow been bypassed by the owners of the site, the Thames Valley Police force.

I support wholeheartedly the initiative of councillor St John Dickson in putting forward the suggestion that the council should buy the site for a car park.

To build another retirement complex in the middle of Wantage makes no sense to me. When I scan the property pages in the Herald, I find many retirement flats for sale each week. To use up this valuable site for housing of any kind is surely wrong.

If the business centre of Wantage is to have any hope of expansion, which it surely must do to cope successfully with the large number of houses planned, there must be more shops and more services.

There is also another consideration when deciding how to use the site. Mr Dickson and the council propose turning it into a car park. I would go further and suggest that it is the perfect position relative to the centre of Wantage for a coach park. Wantage is the birthplace of King Alfred the Great and must have the potential to attract coach tours. At present, to my knowledge, there is no such facility within easy walking distance of the town centre. Furthermore, the coach park would be very close to the Vale and Downland Museum, which would provide the visitors with refreshments and a fascinating museum tour. Wantage used to have a coach park in Limborough Road. This has never been replaced.

John Garvey

Charlton Road

Wantage