Sir – Perhaps the delay to the Westgate development (Report, October 15) should be seen as an opportunity rather than a setback.

An earlier planning proposal was rejected by the Secretary of State in September, 2002, partly on the grounds of size. Unfortunately the developers ignored this and proposed a much larger development, which increased in size with every revision.

The present economic situation offers an excellent opportunity for the developers to put forward a more modest proposal and one more suited to the needs of local people.

Barbara Raw, Oxford