COWLEY Conservative Club is the target of “malicious vandals”, it has been claimed, after the building was damaged over the weekend.

The fire doors of the club, which is located in Between Towns Road, were damaged irreparably on Saturday at 5.45am, and bricks from the boundary wall were dislodged.

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said the damage to the door was being investigated as an attempted burglary but nothing was taken.

Long-term activist and president of the Oxford East Conservative Association Gary Dixon said he believed the “vandalism” at the club was a “malicious” example of the Conservative group being targeted – and he claimed that it had happened on more than one occasion.

Our top stories

Mr Dixon, president since 2008, said: “Being in the public eye you expect a certain amount of abuse, and this looks like another malicious attack.

“I don’t think this was a break-in, it’s more likely vandalism.”

The 64-year-old former civil servant said he expected it to cost approximately £4,000 to replace the fire doors.

Although this is the first time Mr Dixon has contacted the police, the Conservative Club has previously been the victim of vandalism, he claimed.

He said: “We often have people chucking rubbish over the wall into our car park, or we have them ripping our notices down.

“We have had some posters like our support for Save Temple Cowley Pools smeared with paint.”

Mr Dixon said the Oxford East Conservative Association had also received offensive phone calls from members of the public.

The former Temple Cowley city councillor said: “There’s always a nutter out there somewhere.

“We’re in Oxford and there’s plenty.”

The Cowley Conservative Club previously caused controversy in 2011 when developers attempted to build 152 student rooms on the site with no parking provision.

thisisoxfordshire:

The damage to the fire doors and wall at the club in Between Towns Road

The application was withdrawn but the club has put in a new application to develop the site.

Under the new plans, the former clubhouse and ballroom would be replaced by a four-storey building consisting of 44 flats, a retail shop and space for the existing social club.

Mr Dixon said: “Consultations are ongoing and we are trying to engage with the local community about our plans.”

Thames Valley Police are still investigating the damage sustained to the club, but would not comment any further on Mr Dixon’s claims.

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.