THERE were opposing views about the proposal to build accommodation on stilts in the car park accessible from Old High Street in the Oxford Mail.

Apart from the obvious reduction in parking places once the housing is built, the idea would be very bad for business because when the alterations were taking place there would be no car parking there, so shops would close and businesses would be badly affected.

The Friends of Old Headington support opposition to this development wholeheartedly for the reasons previously expressed.

How city and county councillor Roy Darke can say that car parks are “dead places” is unbelievable, and how can he say that the council has to take long-term development need into account and support a vibrant local economy – what vibrant local economy if there is no adequate car parking for those contributing to it?

Shoppers come in from a number of outlying villages, as we know from personal contacts and from signatures on the petition, and where are they to park when there are no local bus services to Headington from their villages? Think again.

STELLA WELFORD, Honorary secretary, Friends of Old Headington, Old High Street, Headington