Sir – No one should be fooled by the Utopia shown in the artist’s impressions of the ‘new Botley’.

They show us what looks like an eternal summer of happy people, embracing each other and strolling about in a carefree manner — just what we crave at this time of year. However when we emerge from the cavernous exhaust-filled underground car park on to West Way, we will met by the same road and the same weather we find every day.

Doric’s lighting effects may be plausible late afternoon in summer, but most of the day most of the road will be in shade from the high buildings, as will buildings on the other side of the road for much of the year. Extra traffic will mean extra noise echoing off the five-storey buildings.

We are likely to be splashed by traffic when it’s wet — unless delivery vans shelter us, or traffic is stationary queueing at the junction they haven’t yet shown us — the entrance to the car park.

On days a lot less windy than recently, the wind channelling effect by the roadside will not be pleasant. And how will we get to this ‘high street we never had’?

We will have to endure two years of building site barriers feet from the street edge, scaffolding and steel girders, lorries leaving trails of mud. We probably won’t have anywhere to shop, so there won’t be much reason to walk by, unless to go to St Peter and St Paul to pray for something better. However Doric dress up their plans, it is still monstrous and an insult to the people who rely on the continuity and community that our shabby but functional and well-loved shopping centre provides. It’ll be a nightmare! Gordon Stokes, Cumnor