Sir, Regarding the planning application for Westgate, in Oxford: two reports (May 5) illustrate the failure of the city and county councils, and the head of architecture and planning of the John Lewis Partnership, to understand the chaos which would inevitably follow if permission were granted for the shopping and housing area expansion and other developments in West End.
The first report is on page one and is by Reg Little, headed Glimpse of the city's flagship store. The second is on page three, by Andrew Ffrench and is headed New look for city blackspot that is the area on Botley Road near the railway bridge. Several of your correspondents have been pointing out for years in your letters page that the whole Westgate and West End area is just too inaccessible for the proposed massive development and it will remain so until we can all descend on it from any form of airborne transport!
The only approach by bus or car must be via Botley Road, from the already overcrowded A34, from Folly Bridge (about the width of a medieval ox-cart and via the Walton Street/Beaumont Street/Worcester Street junction.
The county council's executive member for transport, David Robertson, says in the second report: "An accident ... on Botley Road could cause tailbacks round the city's road network. That's because the majority of the time the roads are running at capacity or above and if you get a glitch anywhere on the network it can screw up the whole system. ... When there is an accident on Botley Road, there is no alternative route."
So, much as most of us would love a John Lewis Partnership store near Oxford, we must hope it does not come into Westgate.
Gillian Turberfield, Oxford
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article