IN REPLY to J Giles’ letter (Oxford Mail, December 2) about the welcome decision not to build on Headington car park, I have been talking to people in Headington and working on this issue for several months.

I have consistently opposed this proposal, as have all the residents who have raised the issue with me. As a Labour activist, I am better placed than representatives of other parties to make this case to members of Labour group.

Labour councillors are acutely aware of the urgent need for housing in Oxford (second only to London), so it was right to examine all potential housing sites – but then to reject those where the loss of amenity or to business outweighs the gain in housing. This was the case made by Roy Darke last July, which the Lib Dems are now trying to use to discredit me.

In truth, whatever the claims of the Lib Dem councillors about their opposition, they had no influence over the decision to drop this site. Residents did, through their conversations with me, and together we have secured a good outcome for the community.

JANE DARKE Edgeway Road Marston Oxford