I AM WRITING in response to your article in last Friday’s Oxford Mail: (College wants ‘Burgerfest’ to be withdrawn from the menu)

A meeting between representatives of Balliol and the city council enabled everybody involved to understand the importance of this event, and the issues involved in staging it, including minimising disturbance to local residents.

Dr Rachel Quarrell and the Balliol team are working enthusiastically with the city council’s team to make sure that the event is a success and that it includes involvement from as many students from nearby colleges as possible.

The Bonn Week events are particularly important in the light of Brexit and the need to maintain good relations with our European colleagues. Can I take this opportunity to invite all Oxford residents to take part in the celebrations – be it singing in our open-to-all performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, attending the Museum of Oxford’s Bonn family day, or coming along to see the special Beethoven exhibit in the Weston Library.

For more information, please visit oxford.gov.uk/twinning

Christine Simm

City Executive Board Member for Culture and Communities