Sir – It is preposterous that the decision on such an important and controversial a Listed Building Application as that for the New Bodleian should have been delegated to officers (Report, May 27).
Strong objections to specific aspects of the proposals were made by the national Twentieth Century Society and by the Victorian Group of the Oxfordshire Architectural and Historical Society.
The equally controversial recent application for damaging alterations to the Rhodes Building at Oriel College was also delegated to officers, and granted permission, despite strong objections from the national Victorian Society, the Victorian Group, and the Oxford Preservation Trust.
In both cases the officers had been involved in pre-application discussions, and their approval (very swiftly given) was a foregone conclusion. Nothing could be less democratic. Councillors should insist that such applications must be decided by area committees.
Peter Howell, Oxford
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