Sir – In your article on the Western Conveyance Channel (July 10) councillor Rose is quoted as saying the flood relief channel will now go ahead. How?

There’s been no detailed feasibility study commissioned yet, no route determined, no significant public consultation, no sign-off from central Government that the scheme offers best value for money (this particularly decision is several years down the line), and most importantly he’s only earmarked funding for about half of the pre-detailed design estimated costs.

There are alternatives to building the flood relief channel that are still on the table — easing bottlenecks and upstream storage — which he is duty bound to consider in detail before taking the scheme before central government.

Councillor Rose knows this but for some reason — along with several other influential individuals — continues to act as if the flood relief channel has already been approved. 

The financial risks of a flood relief channel are enormous, whilst cost-effective and more environmentally progressive solutions are still in the running.

For these reasons, we deserve far more openness and transparency regarding flood alleviation work in Oxford than is currently on offer.

David Thomas and Ruthi Brandt, (Councillors, Oxford Green Party)