The ideas of local councillors often provide us with the greatest entertainment in our office. So it was again this week with the thought from Nuala Young that the fountain in the middle of the Plain roundabout could be restored to its original use as a drinking fountain.

We had visions of parched individuals dicing with death as they dodged the cyclists on the Plain, not to mention the cars and buses, in order to slake their thirst in the middle of the roundabout.

The Plain is an important landmark for Oxford. It is a gateway to the city centre and some efforts to improve it would be welcomed. However, to restore it as a fountain is a waste of time unless the Plain is to be turned over to pedestrians. Now there's a thought!