READING East MP, Matt Rodda, has urged the government to “reconsider” selling Reading Gaol to Reading Borough Council (RBC) or an arts and heritage organisation.

It comes after RBC announced its bid for the site was rejected by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) yesterday (April 6).

READ MORE: Reading Gaol: Council's bid rejected by Ministry of Justice.

Mr Rodda has been a key player in the campaign to save the historic Reading Gaol and prevent it from being sold to the highest bidder.

He, alongside many other campaigners, wants to preserve the site as an arts and heritage hub for the community.

Following the news the MoJ has rejected the council’s bid, Mr Rodda expressed his disappointment.

He said: “I am deeply disappointed with the government’s approach and I would urge the government to work with the council and respect the enormous historical importance of Reading Gaol.”

The prison is infamous for its incarceration of playwright Oscar Wilde who, according to the British Library, was found guilty of "acts of gross indecency with other male persons" in 1895.

Campaigners have shown their support for the site to be turned into an arts and heritage site and their efforts saw them participate in a gaol ‘hug’ last year.

The event, organised by Linda Saul, saw hundreds of supporters encircle the prison’s walls to physically demonstrate their wish to save the site as an asset for the community.

The famous novelist, Stephen Fry, who played Wilde in the 1997 film, has also thrown his weight behind the campaign.

READ MORE: Stephen Fry backs Reading Gaol campaign.

Fry explained "if living art can rise up from the place where Oscar and so many others suffered then how perfect that will be, for Reading, for Britain and for us all".

Mr Rodda continued: “I am concerned that the government still want to sell the gaol to the highest bidder and I understand they now have a preferred bidder who they are working with.

“I would ask them even at this late stage to reconsider and think again about selling the gaol to Reading Borough Council or an arts and heritage organisation.”

A spokeswoman for the MoJ said it can't reveal who the successful bidder is at the moment but explained it "will be announced in due course".