AT last, redevelopment of the Westgate Centre, has got outline planning approval.

Quoting this week’s city council meeting: “This will create a world-class retail experience and establish Oxford as the regional shopping destination.”

This is a mile and a half from the West Way local shopping centre in Botley.

All we need now is for the city to approve the Waitrose plans for the old MFI site in Botley Road (surely a certainty), half a mile from Botley. Westgate and Waitrose are served by excellent bus services from Botley and all points to Witney, Eynsham, Cumnor, Wootton and Abingdon; an existing cycle lane from Botley and a likely new cycle lane to Eynsham.

What price now the ‘retail driven’ overdevelopment of West Way by Doric Properties and their supporters at Vale District Council? This fantastic and ill-conceived scheme must surely now sink without trace.
RAY CANTWELL
West Way
Botley