CAMPAIGNERS have slammed the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for blocking their efforts to turn the empty Reading Prison into an arts hub.

Members of Theatre Arts Reading (TAR) received a substantial grant worth £20,000 in November from Arts Council England to make use of the old prison, which has been empty since 2013.

The MoJ prematurely closed the site as part of the Government's desire to replace outdated prisons with more modern ones, but Reading Borough Council revealed it was costing the taxpayer more than £250,000 every year to 'mothball'.

The arts group had intended to carry out a series of site visits to determine the future use of the prison, but they are being denied access.

Melvin Benn, chair of TAR, said: "We feel very strongly that an architect representing us should be able to have access to the gaol site to undertake the feasibility study that the Arts Council have given us a grant for.

"For around three years the MoJ have released dates for the site going on the market and these keep being pushed back.

"We do not want to be in a position where the site is suddenly put on the market and we have not done enough preparation work to then be an interested party.

"We are trying to preserve an iconic site for Reading and would welcome any help to get in to the site, especially from those with influence in government."

The prison has been put forward as a one of six potential sites to take over from The Hexagon, which is no longer able to cope with large scale productions.

The Oscar Wilde Society has asked for the prison to be preserved to honour the poets imprisonment, but the Grade II listed building is more likely to be sold to developers for 300 homes.

A spokesman for the MoJ added: “Archaeological work is currently taking place at the former Reading prison site to inform the future use and marketing of the site.

“The prison is not yet listed for sale and therefore no prospective bidders are able to gain access to the site.”