A SENIOR city councillor has backed plans to transform a derelict farm on Shotover Hill into an outdoor visitor centre for schools and residents.

Linda Smith, Oxford City Council's executive board member for parks, said it was "clear there is potential to provide community benefits" after meeting volunteers of the Westhill Farm Project at the site.

She added: "I am keen to make sure the council makes the best use of it that it can.

"And I see the Westhill Farm group as a key partner in that."

Her comments are a boost to volunteers after other council officials criticised their business plan.

Despite the group insisting the proposals were only in draft form, the council hired a consultancy firm to professionally audit them and a report claimed there were "critical issues".

Labour city councillor Ms Smith said: "Now I am involved, I am keen to make sure there is good communication between the council and the Westhill group.

"I went up to the site to see it for myself and I was impressed by what they are doing there and by their vision.

"It is clear there is potential to provide community benefits at Shotover, which is a beautiful place but lacks many basic facilities like toilets or places to eat that are needed if school groups can use it.

"There needs to be a lot more dialogue about the Westhill Farm business plan and how it can be adapted, but that is something I know the group is keen to do.

"It could be a great place for kids to visit and explore, do nature walks and take part in forest school activities."

Ms Smith said a meeting about the farm between herself, council leader Bob Price, deputy leader Ed Turner and senior officers would take place in the coming weeks.

At the moment the Shotover Hill site consists of a fenced-off house that was burnt-out by an arson attack, as well as a barn which volunteers believe could be converted for other uses.

They say an outdoor education centre there could host school visits and teach people land-based skills, as well as providing a new scenic park for people living in Oxford.

Cowley-based filmmaker Nick Lunch, one of those behind the project, called on the council to reconsider the group's plan, saying it "makes sense to put it to good use".

A report to the city council's scrutiny committee by executive director David Edwards said the local authority planned to go ahead with the demolition of the derelict house on the site.

He said the council had "not given its support to the proposals in the plan, which include residential use, and there are no plans for the parks and leisure team to use the facilities".