YOU’D need the hide of a rhinoceros not to sympathise with Jane Cox, right, and other Northway protesters who oppose the Barton West development. For many years Northway overcame its many disadvantages, ie its lack of shops and distance from the city centre, the tower block slap in the middle, not to mention the 24/7 noise from the by-pass.

More recently, though, some residents have moved away saying that too many houses had passed into the hands of private landlords, the community spirit was dying and the streets were becoming dirty. One can only conclude that if Northway is already struggling, the last thing it needs is a ‘relief’ road from Barton West.

Living at the time in Marston, my children went to the excellent New Marston Primary in Copse Lane. But even a decade ago, the danger of road accidents was a constant preoccupation of parents and staff. How much worse now and if Barton West goes ahead?

The ring-road forms a natural belt around Oxford. Residents of areas outside the ring-road like Barton are considerably disadvantaged unless they are highly mobile with corresponding resources.

Many parts of Oxford are in serious need of regeneration. Why not take the opportunity to combine regeneration with expansion in Oxford’s most neglected areas and open up a competition for multi-storey (not tower block) solutions?

It’s hard to imagine Freiburg’s green architects – whose solutions are so much admired in Oxford, we’ve read – not participating.

JONATHAN SAUNDERS

Ramsay Road

Oxford