Sir – While Oxford’s plan to tax development is welcome in principle (City to seek powers over funding big projects, July 5), it could tempt the local authority to spend the new money on prestige schemes instead of lesser projects that are actually wanted and needed.

Unfortunately the city council has form in this area — eg the white elephant swimming pool planned for Blackbird Leys when everyone wants to keep Temple Cowley open.

One proposal for this funding is a new Thames bridge at Jackdaw Lane. Long on a wish-list, it has become ‘priority’ and scheduled for £10,000 of feasibility funding (the actual bridge would cost £2,100,000+).

The ‘stakeholders’ consulted include neither East Oxford residents nor the owners of riverside land needed for the bridge and cycle track — Christ Church and University colleges.

Superficially attractive, the bridge would very expensive and too off-course to be the attractive route from East Oxford to city centre billed in the City Cycle Plan.

The track would go through Aston’s Eyot, needing street lighting to make it safe on winter nights, which would spoil what is now a peaceful area, rich in wildlife much appreciated by East Oxford residents.

Mixing fast cyclists and quiet walkers is already a problem on the towpath; this would get worse and spread the ‘contagion’ to Aston’s Eyot. The scheme would also spark calls for a second track to the bridge via the Kidneys, turning the area into a cycle hub.

Aston’s Eyot is Green Belt land at the junction of important green corridors along the Thames and Cherwell.

Last year, an exhibition in Iffley Fields looked at potential ‘development’ options for the area. Of the 125 attendees, only three individuals supported a bridge over the Thames. There are better uses for this money.

Anthony Cheke, Chairman, Friends of Aston’s Eyot, Oxford