I MUST respond to Layla Moran’s recent letter (‘An exemplary show of community solidarity and a win for democracy,’ December 5.)

The defeat of Doric’s plans for West Way has been a very clear victory for and by the community and the many hours a lot of normal people have spent trying to fathom out very complicated plans (if they could get access) and then writing an objection on material planning grounds.

All credit and many thanks to anyone who has helped that process and spoken up for locals. However, I do feel it is high time to point out a couple of facts to Ms Moran, the Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate for the area which includes North Hinksey.

1) The political party Ms Moran promotes, held control of the Vale District Council for the last two administrations and achieved nothing with West Way.

West Way lacked investment and became run down, and, as a result, came to the attention of speculative developers. People are justified in feeling fed up with the ineffectiveness of political parties at local level.

2) The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) may well come back to bite Botley via an appeal by Doric. The NPPF, as I’m sure everyone is aware, came along from the coalition government.

The party that Ms Moran represents is a part of the coalition. The interpretation of the National Planning Policy Framework by district councils planning departments is also one of the main reasons that people are having such a terrible time fighting other unsuitable developments, with limited success.

John Marriott
Lime Road
Oxford

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