Local councillors have labelled Warwick's MP as "ill informed" over his calls to halt the sale of Riverside House to Homes England.

MP for Warwick and Leamington Matt Western asked Warwick District Council (WDC) leader Cllr Ian Davison to block the sale of the council's headquarters in order to hold a public consultation.

The Labour MP said the land should be retained for social rent council housing to address the local "housing emergency". 

In response, Cllr Davison said the sale would help save £250,000 per year, and was in the best interest of tax payers to move out of the Leamington building.

Speaking in support at last week's full council meeting, Conservative group leader Cllr Andrew Day said: "I do commend the leader's response in the press to our MP's ill-informed comments around the proposals coming for there, which have had cross-party support.

"It will deliver significant numbers of affordable housing in a key part of our community.

"And do a lot when we have already reduced the housing list by a significant proportion in the last council.

"This will contribute further, affordable housing and social housing in our community."

Local MP Matt Western said the sale of Riverside House should be halted (image supplied)

Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Alan Boad was also quick to support Cllr Davison, again labelling Mr Western as "ill informed".

Plans to relocate council services from the Leamington offices were signed off by the previous Conservative-led council, before the new Green-Labour leadership took over following the May elections. 

Local residents were consulted on the future of the Milverton Hill building back in 2021, but Mr Western says there needs to be further consultation on the actual sale of Riverside House.

The Green-Labour coalition forced through plans to repurpose the Royal Pump Rooms' shop to create a new customer service hub earlier this year, as part of the relocation from Riverside House.

WDC is set to vacate Riverside House and move to offices in Warwick, where a lease will be taken with Warwickshire County Council for use of part of the Saltisford 1 building.

Cllr Day - who was leader of the previous WDC administration - also asked new deputy leader and Labour member Cllr Chris King, whether he agreed with his party colleague Mr Western.

Warwick District Council deputy leader and Labour member Cllr Chris King (left) with Green leader Cllr Ian Davison (image via Warwick District Council)

"I understand where those criticisms are coming from because there is a feeling that, when the decision was made around what to do with the site, and how to progress with the issues around the existing building, he has a strong feeling that the right process wasn't followed - particularly with regard to consulting the public," Cllr King replied. 

"Now you will appreciate of course that I wasn't involved as a councillor at the time and I was barely aware of this going on to be quite honest. 

"So I can't really answer for him in respect of why he is asking these questions. 

"I assume he has the best motives behind him - if you want more answers for him, I suggest you ask him."

When pressed further by Cllr Day, Cllr King said he had supported the reply from Cllr Davison, adding: "I think it is very good for the community to have vibrant tensions. 

"It doesn't do any harm, it forces more questions and it forces more questioning of what has been happening in the processes."