Sir – Your editorial about the extravagance of Oxford City Council in spending £70,000 on a non-playworthy pirate ship (July 29) will ring a bell with many North Hinksey parishioners.
North Hinksey Parish Council and the Vale of the White Horse District Council are about to spend £67,000 on a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) on the rural fringe of the parish, located between Oxford Brookes University playing fields and those of Matthew Arnold School.
Although the school, which already has access to many play facilities, is reported as being the main mover behind this project, local parishioners have been unable to find more than a handful of students and others who support it.
Most regard it as a waste of money, and deplore the effect that it will have upon one of Oxford’s wonderful open views across Wytham, Port Meadow, and as far as Upper Heyford. Since only one team game can be played in the MUGA at any one time, its lack of versatility contrasts with the existing, but to be demolished, basketball net and the practice wall, used by footballers, cricketers and tennis players.
Is this the sort of responsibility that our coalition government is trying to promote?
Dr Andrew M. Pritchard, Dr Nicola Carter, North Hinksey
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