HAVING just read the self-appointed Oxford City Council’s minister for propaganda John Tanner’s comments regarding council mergers in Tuesday’s Oxford Mail.

Oxford City Council is defunct and continues to demonstrate that it is simply unfit for purpose. A change is long overdue, Mr Tanner and his cohorts have had their chance over three decades and have failed, their period of governance will probably go into the local history books as a period of infrastructure destruction and stagnation. Ridiculous planning approvals by the city council planning department, the latest is building on the flood plain in Botley, it makes you wonder who or what is the fool in the planning department that thinks these ongoing disasters are at all good for Oxford.

I note that in his letter John Tanner mentions cleaner air has improved for Oxford, can I ask through your paper when does he plan to check the air quality on The Slade. Living in areas blighted by the Oxford Transport study, championed I might add vigorously by Mr Tanner in the 1980s without first implementing the new infrastructure needed to replace extensive road closures, has over the years done great damage to the city of Oxford. Where I live you can actually taste car exhaust fumes when standing in the back garden, for that I blame Mr Tanner’s failed administration.

If better is possible then good is not enough Mr Tanner, the super-council is coming whether you like it or not, a much brighter future for all beckons with an end to city council complacency.

RICHARD ANDERSON Wood Farm Road Headington Oxford