Sir - I would like to add my voice to the growing protest against the possible loss of the Jericho Boatyard.

Surely the new development can go ahead while retaining the boatyard, by some simple adjustments to the scheme?

If not, those responsible for destroying the boatyard, which is an important part of old Oxford, will be identified as vandals by future historians of the city. And all this can be avoided by some intelligent compromises.

Desmond Morris, Oxford