Recent discussions over the Green Belt around Oxford have included some calls for its boundaries to be reviewed.

That is a dangerous suggestion, as the whole point of a Green Belt is that it should safeguard the individuality of communities and avoid urban sprawl.

Once you start to review it where do you end?

The Government's Planning Policy Guidance 2' states simply: The essential characteristic of Green Belts is their permanence.' It also says: Once Green Belt has been approved it should be altered only in exceptional circumstances.' I know of no such exceptional circumstances' justifying reconsideration of the land around Oxford scheduled as Green Belt.

The PPG2 guidance from the Government further states: Where existing local plans are being revised and updated, existing Green Belt boundaries should not be changed unless alterations to the structure plan have been approved, or other exceptional circumstances exist, which necessitate such revision.' It would useful to know precisely what the exceptional circumstances' are which would justify a review.

I wonder if those Tories who have questioned the current Green Belt boundaries, and who often conveniently live elsewhere in the county, might wish to rise to this particular challenge.

If they cannot, perhaps we could all agree to leave the Green Belt alone for everyone to enjoy and benefit from for decades to come, and to consider alternative options for Oxford which do not threaten surrounding communities.

Jerry Patterson (Councillor) Leader Vale of White Horse District Council