Sir – As long-term residents of St Michael’s Street, we are pleased to see the city council’s plans for some of these wonderful old buildings — evolving over eight years rather than 18 months — at last becoming a reality.

Your readers will have noted that our café for homeless and other vulnerable people is itself undergoing change, following the notice given by our landlord.

It is sad to feel that we will not be a part of the renewal of St Michael Street, but like the developers of the “boutique hotel” we have exciting plans for the future. I am pleased to report that we have a new home not far away, in the parish rooms of St Giles (10 Woodstock Road). Building work is progressing well and we are already halfway towards our £175,000 target to renew and re-equip the project. I would encourage those who are at all curious to refer to our website at www.oxfordgatehouse.org to discover how to be part of our future.

Andrew W Smith, Project Director, the Gatehouse