PLANNING policy must, of course, be king, but it is a pity from the commercial front that Oxford City Council looks likely to turn down another attempt to boost hotel room numbers off the Abingdon Road.

Oxford Spires Four Pillars wants to erect a new building to bolster its room numbers by 57, but officers have recommended the west area planning committee refuse the application.

One key element for this is the absence, officers say, of a proper assessment of the risk of flooding, while they also cite concerns about guests using the local residential roads.

These are two factors that surely should be addressed. However, the officers’ concern about the new structure being far more prominent from Abingdon Road and being detrimental to the openness of the Green Belt will bring a wry smile to those still fighting that committee’s decision to blithely wave through the Castle Mill scheme that they say so dominates Port Meadow.

Recently building a Travelodge further down the Abingdon Road was also rejected but the point remains this city is in need of good-quality hotel rooms for tourists, business people and shoppers.

That third group may become more crucial given the development of Westgate and the West End. Compromises need to be found that meet business imperatives within sensible planning policies.