Sir, May I swiftly assure Bill Leonard (Letters, April 21), that in no way am I advocating "huge expenditure" at the cost of the Oxford ratepayer, for the re-opening of the now filled-in terminal section of the Oxford Canal to provide safe moorings for visiting boats which would, of course, bring in additional custom beneficial to the city. To state that the plan would involve "flooding" of the area, as Mr Leonard states, is surely somewhat misleading and dramatic, especially as he then goes on to talk about the plan involving the creation of "a small pond" on the car park!

As I understand it, the FOXCAN scheme would be self-financing, involving, as it does, housing and commercial development in the area, the feature of which would be a re-modelled and attractive canal basin, offering limited-stay moorings as well as services for visiting boats.

I fully agree with Christopher Goodall (Letters, April 21), that now is the time to take things a step further by the production of drawings to show us all what the proposed development might look like, as well as inviting all interested parties to constructively comment on the proposed design.

Oliver Lovell, Moreton-in-Marsh