Sir – Chiltern Railways intend unilaterally to rename Bicester Town station “Bicester Village”, ignoring the many objections voiced, despite the very limited window of opportunity so to do.

I’m sure I’m one of many who believe they have no moral right to do this.

The new station is being constructed by a national agency – Network Rail – partly with public funds. But much more than this, any station is a public amenity, whose name should reflect the town or village it serves, and not a nearby private business.

The shopping centre called “Bicester Village” is not a village, by any description.  Presumably, if Chiltern is allowed to rebuild the line through Cowley as well, it will name the station there “BMW”.  It would be no more ridiculous or offensive.

Naming stations after a nearby business, which may no longer exist in a decade or two, will also destroy value in the railway map.  It will be confusing, to say the least.

They boast that the hostility to their plan is ‘balanced’ by their own telephone poll where 49 per cent favoured the change.  A web-based poll conducted by Bicester Traffic Action Group had more respondents, the overwhelming majority of whom opposed it.

But this is not how we take such decisions in this country.  If Chiltern wish to go ahead with this, they need to win the support of our elected representatives, after sufficient time for public debate.

They have already moved the stop for the train-replacement bus service into the shopping centre, with virtually no warning or genuine justification, giving residents an additional 15-minute walk from the town centre.

This is no way for a train operator to behave. Chiltern are losing our confidence and trust.

Dr Ian East, Chairman, Oxford-Bicester Rail Action Group, Islip