Please uphold North Wessex Down’s status IN THURSDAY’S leader (Blenheim battle is indicative of the housing fight gripping county) you write: “There’s people in South and Vale worried about their Green Belt...”
However, you fail to mention the battle also going on in South and Vale to protect the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
The AONB has a higher level of protection than the Green Belt, being designated by act of parliament for the beauty of its landscape.
The Green Belt is a local designation, not necessarily based on natural beauty, to prevent towns and villages expanding into one another.
Today's Letters
The Green Belt is fortunate to have Lib Dem councillors representing many of its wards on Vale of White Horse District Council (VWHDC). They have mounted a vociferous campaign to protect it.
Unfortunately the AONB area to the south of the county is represented by Conservative councillors who have not spoken out publicly to protect their beautiful landscape, which VWHDC now wants to designate for an unsustainable settlement of 1,400 homes.
If local authorities are to designate large areas of Oxfordshire for housing, it is more important than ever to uphold the AONB’s protection by parliament to ensure an area of naturally beautiful countryside for all to enjoy.
FRANK DUMBLETON Main Street, Chilton
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here