Sir – In the June 28 edition there was yet again a number of reports where the proposals of the University (and I include Brookes) are coming up against local opposition. Local residents are set to fight revised Cowley Road quad bid; Developer insists changes are only slight; Students’ flat plan is rejected.

In all these cases the position taken by each side is entirely understandable. Local residents are not being NIMBYs — they are trying to preserve their own home area as they would like it to be and the University for its part is trying to carry through one of the greatest changes in Oxford for many years as a result of a major fundraising operation which has raised millions of pounds.

The University is one of the few remaining British institutions which is recognised as being of international standing. However its proposals for development are coming up continually against local opposition.

The resulting need, for example, to relocate the book storage facility in Swindon in 2010 is only one example where everyone is the loser.

Surely there is a better way of doing things than these continual conflicts of interests which delay development, cost a great deal of unnecessary expense and lead to general frustration.

My own frustration arises because I have insufficient expertise to suggest an answer, but as a layman one might suggest perhaps a major investigation drawing on all the parties involved to lay down the parameters for future developments over the next decade which will be binding on these parties, or perhaps some form of tribunal where cases for development can be heard and where the decision again is binding.

Anything surely is better than the present niggling and sniping, which only causes ill-will and produces probably the worst possible answers.

Dick Brown, Wantage