ALONG with many other residents to whom Botley’s special appeal and local environment are crucial, we duly responded with sincerity to the Vale of White Horse’s recent request for residents’ written views on the West Way Development Area’s Supplementary Development Plan (SPD).

Hence we were infuriated and outraged to read in last week’s Oxford Mail that the Vale changed tack just before the closing date for comments and submissions, announcing that only stakeholders’ views would inform their eventual decision... this, despite all the time and effort devoted to the SPD by ordinary residents who are not stakeholders.

A scandalous decision, this: Just how stupid does the Vale think we are?

RUTH and NEIL CAMERON
Conifer Close, Botley

NOWHERE in the published ‘Supplementary Plan Document’ for Botley are local needs clearly defined, or the evidence of those needs presented.

The process is potentially specious: generalities are proposed, and the community asked to answer them in detail, but they can easily be got round later by people paid salaries to do so.

It has been clearly shown that there is a temptation for a big council (for an area, say, 100 times the size of a region to be affected) to create grand schemes that attend the interest of such large central councils or of individuals.

However, proper town planning in accordance with English principles (in peacetime!) would require it to be a basic aim of planning decisions that no permission be given if not approved by the community.

It’s that simple.

Hence by the deadline for submissions on that document, I proposed:

Amend the Plan to include this:

* Everything in this Plan MAY serve as a guideline [...], BUT: [...]

* Any proposals for Botley that clearly have a significant effect on the local environment must, simply, be approved by the community.

* If this provision is over-ridden, the local community shall have [...] appeal proceedings for reversal...

* The days of massive centralised decisions that override local opinion are ‘in Botley’ now past.

STEPHEN B FRY
Frenchay Road, North Oxford