Sir – Green environments are good for you. Quite apart from the implications for biodiversity and climate change, there is considerable evidence that people are happier and healthier in a green environment.

With the current trend towards the replacement of houses by blocks of flats with large areas of parking, the character of our city as well as its health is at risk from the loss of greenery of all kinds.

Last June, the city council called for a greater emphasis on the need for adequate planted green space in all planning applications. Letters were to be written to the city’s MPs to ask them ‘to support the principle of more, properly maintained, planting of trees and shrubs and raise the issue within parliament.’

Almost a year later, we have a report suggesting that what is needed is a ‘tree strategy’, costing £40,000 to prepare. And that there are no funds for this so nothing at all will be done to increase planting in the city.

The report dismissed the council’s resolutions and said it ‘would be inappropriate to write to the city’s MPs’, as no action is being taken as resolved by council. However, letters had been written to Andrew Smith MP and Evan Harris MP and both replied last autumn.

Andrew’s reply had a supportive letter from Hazel Blears and Evan’s one from planning minister Baroness Andrews.

Both agreed that more planting should be encouraged. Baroness Andrews pointed out that the supplement to the national planning statement on Climate Change ‘stresses the role and needs of trees, biodiversity and the green infrastructure in general and that these must be recognised in the planning process to achieve sustainable development.’ It seems that the city council mislaid these replies. Oxford is aiming to reduce its carbon footprint and yet is ignoring one key area where progress could be made. It does not cost £40,000 to instruct planning officers to encourage planting!

Jean Fooks, City councillor for Summertown and county councillor