YOUR story “New rail route is on track after go-ahead” (June 17) was highly misleading in two respects.

First, as one of the organisers of the petition calling for planning conditions to be upheld before Oxford City Council approved Network Railway’s application, I object to the statement: “More than 600 people signed a petition against the Wolvercote section of the East West link, which was presented to Oxford City Council leader Bob Price earlier this month.”

In fact the petition (now signed by 700) called on the city council to ensure that planning conditions designed to safeguard residents from unacceptable levels of noise and vibration from freight traffic were properly upheld before approval was granted.

Those of us campaigning for this safeguard have never opposed the Chiltern Railways passenger service – in fact we very much welcome it.

Second, as someone who attended the meeting of the west area planning committee, I would like to correct the statement that “Councillors were satisfied vibration and noise levels would stay within acceptable limits on the new route despite concerns raised by residents”.

Councillors were not satisfied.

Network Rail’s assurances about future traffic on the line were described by one councillor as something out of Alice in Wonderland.

The committee partially approved the scheme and attached strict conditions to it designed to ensure that Network Rail does not exceed noise and vibration levels specified by the Secretary of State.

Residents welcome this decision – providing of course that the conditions (including monitoring noise and vibration) are fully respected in practice.

PATRICIA FEENEY
Bladon Close
North Oxford