Why do we have to put up with such a dysfunctional shambles?

There are anti-development protest groups across the county and the Green Belt is progressively nibbled at the edges, with major roads, railways, car and lorry parks, solar farms, railway stations and industrial operations all regarded as legitimate and permissible Green Belt ‘non-development’.

Jean Fooks refers to the disjointed and piecemeal approach to planning which leaves the way of life of all of us under threat.

Responsibility for this chaos of course lies with the six local authorities concerned, whose understanding of the legal duty for ‘cooperation’ seems to amount to no more than meeting and disagreeing.

Oxford Civic Society published the ‘Oxford Futures’ report (see oxfordfutures.org.uk) on these very issues in March last year. Fundamental among its eight recommendations, was the call for properly coordinated spatial and transport planning, with full public engagement, for the whole region.

Lord Drayson, in a compelling speech to the ‘Oxford’s Sustainable Future’ symposium in June, bemoaned the lack of a unified voice presenting a shared vision of what truly sustainable growth could offer to everyone.

Other city regions provide plenty of examples of successful development, benefiting all and enhancing the environment.

Why can’t we have it here?

Oxfordshire County Council has recently announced ‘England’s Economic Heartland’ – a strategic partnership covering transport and infrastructure across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire.

Why doesn’t the partnership include the planning authorities?

Why can’t transport and infrastructure be properly coordinated with detailed development planning?

With the best brains in the world at our disposal here, why do we have to put up with the dysfunctional shambles which currently prevails? We demand better from our elected representatives and planning professionals.

PETER THOMPSON
Chairman, Oxford Civic Society
Lonsdale Road, Oxford