Great news in your story ‘£96m pot to ease crisis in housing,’ (December 12). It shows the resolve and commitment of Oxford Labour to take significant steps to build and improve council housing. Providing 500 new council homes in Oxford over the next decade shows a well-run administration working hard to improve the lot of those least able to afford the high rents found in the private sector.

It is essential that local politicians keep their eyes on the big picture and know where to focus effort. Yet, Councillor Haines grumbles about Barton Park.

The council is working closely with its partners at Barton Park to ensure appropriate infrastructure to alleviate/ mitigate the effects of housing and population growth. Of course, any new development will impact on the environment.

It behoves the council to minimise negative effects but in the bigger picture the benefit of new house-building is overwhelming. It is a pity that Mr Haines has not grasped that trade-off.

Today’s letters

The first reserved matters application for Barton Park will come to east area planning committee early in 2015. It will ensure that the revised and improved sewage scheme does not exacerbate downstream problems. I have been busy this year leading the sewage flooding panel, working with Environmental Development, to put pressure on Thames Water Utilities. The full catchment study of Oxford sewerage will identify causes of persistent sewage flooding problems and bring proposals to deal with these.

The outline planning approval of Barton Park earlier this year took evidence from the county council showing that the impact on nearby roads was manageable, particularly in the initial years.

The county council must deal with continued population growth and greater levels of commuting into Oxford in its upcoming revisions to the Local Transport Plan. They must design for more sustainable transport solutions.

Roy Darke, Councillor for Headington Hill & Northway

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