The hostel at the centre of a paedophile scare is to be sold on the open market.

The sale has been dubbed a "wasted opportunity" by the leader of Wandsworth Council, Councillor Edward Lister, who had called for the building to be used to house key workers, such as policemen.

But his comments have been condemned by Wandsworth's Labour leader, Councillor Tony Belton, who said the council never loses an opportunity to sell unwanted buildings to the highest bidder.

The Home Office announced just over a year ago that it planned to turn the building into a home for 12 ex-convicts, which could have included sex offenders.

This led to a huge outcry and after weeks of angry protests and a candlelit vigil, the plans were withdrawn.

Coun Lister wanted the Home Office to offer the hostel to its original owners, the Metropolitan Police, or to the department of health for nurses' homes.

But earlier this week, the Home Office confirmed the building had not been offered to another Government department and would be auctioned as a private house or flats.

Coun Lister said: "Local people wanted to see this building put to community use. Recruiting police officers is proving immensely difficult and providing low cost housing would have been a sensible step to take."

However, Coun Belton said his colleague's viewpoint was hypocritical considering the council threw out Labour's proposal to turn 144 Bedford Hill into homes for young teachers.

He added: "Why don't they join us in generating a plan for affordable housing for key workers instead of expecting everyone else to do it?"

December 7, 2001 12:01