Sir – Having attended the public meeting hosted by the Close Campsfield campaign in Kidlington (October 20) regarding the proposed expansion of Campsfield House, I was struck by a number of things.

First, it was welcome to see that opposition to this expansion cuts across all parts of the community and party-political lines with the local Liberal Democrats and the Labour, Green and Tory candidates all lending their support to our campaign to halt the expansion. However, it was equally clear that many in our community are unaware this is on the horizon and feel powerless to stop it.

Second, there was a consensus that we need more direct action from the community by making the point to the Home Office that they should take the views of local people in Kidlington and Oxford into account before making any such plans.

Third, that this plan to expand is premature given that the evidence for and the efficacy and morality of detaining for immigration purposes is actively being questioned by a current open inquiry in Parliament.

We now need your help. I call on concerned residents to do two things:

1: Write directly to Teresa May at the Home Office by sending an email to public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk to express your own concerns about this expansion. The more separate voices they hear on the matter the better.

2: Write to the chair of the Inquiry into the use of Detention for Immigration Sarah Teather teathers@parliament.uk to ask her to pressure the Ministry of Justice not to submit any plans for expansion before the inquiry has been able to report back its findings and recommendations. Together we can fight this, but with the plans imminent we need to do so now. Please take the time to pen a very short email or letter as soon as you can.

Layla Moran, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Oxford West and Abingdon