DIGGING millions of tonnes of gravel from a city centre site would sparked "visual and environmental vandalism", according to Oxford City Council leader John Goddard.

A 50-acre site between Grandpont and Hinksey has been earmarked as a possible gravel pit that could provide one-and-a-half million tonnes of sand and gravel. It is the only site within the city on a list of 60 potential sites for sand and gravel extraction drawn up by Oxfordshire County Council.

County Hall insists that not all of the sites will be needed - but city councillors have moved quickly to issue a hands-off warning. Two years ago the Grandpont site was the subject of an ambitious proposal to create a £15m rowing and water sport lake, stretching from Osney Mead to Redbridge park-and-ride.

The company behind the plan, Grandpont Waters, said at the time that the scheme was dependent on funding from the sale of gravel excavated from the flood plain site.

The gravel company H Tuckwell & Son was prominent in the consortium proposing the rowing lake. The company's managing director, Robin Lodge, said: "The company has been involved in a management buy-out, which meant we were unable to commit large sums of money.

"That has now all been resolved. We are hoping to put the idea of a rowing lake back on the agenda. The idea received huge levels of support from the city's boating fraternity."

A new report by city council officers has stated that any gravel extraction at the site, which lies within the Green Belt, would damage the environment, including Hinksey Park and Hinksey Stream. The report also raised concerns about the levels of noise and dust that would be endured by neighbouring homes.

Mr Goddard said: "It would be a really bad idea."