Sir, Approval of the Westgate proposals is great news for Oxford (Report, November 3). I believe the vast majority of people who live in the city or county will welcome the replacement of the current dowdy centre and grim multi-storey car park, both of which are well past their sell-by date.

In contrast, the modern, but thoughtful, design of the new centre has been overseen by Bob Allies, one of the best and most experienced architects in the country.

His firm is also responsible, for example, for the major refurbishment of the Royal Festival Hall at the South Bank Centre.

The Westgate getting the green light, alongside the opening of the impressive and already successful castle site, are signs of a city confident about its future.

It will mean that the ambitious plans for the west end of central Oxford can really get going - including the much-needed transformation of Bonn Square.

Andrew Nairne, Director, Modern Art Oxford