Few would disagree that Botley needs and deserves an improved centre.

The argument about the Doric proposal is now firmly focused on scale of what is being put forward.

Many communities would be delighted about what is being proposed: a hotel, new supermarket, church, library, piazza, cinema and so on.

The jobs and leisure facilities may well be worth the disruption and traffic and even the loss of Elms Parade.

Doric has a strong case to make. But it really is a nonsense to pretend that this is a local scheme, rather than one to attract people far beyond Botley.

An email from a Vale of White Horse district officer makes it all too clear that the Botley development may take trade from Oxford city centre.

Oxfordshire County Council maintains the scale of the development also means an environmental impact assessment should be carried out.

The scheme’s wider importance, for good or ill, needs to be recognised. To pretend otherwise is unfair to both the scheme’s backers and opponents.