Sir – As soon as anyone suggests building houses in and around Oxford, the so-called conservationists come out of the woodwork to object. The tragedy for the people of Oxford is that they are usually successful in blocking much-needed new homes for the thousands on the waiting list.

But they’re not called “conservationists” for nothing. They clearly want to conserve the many people living in sub-standard housing, those on the waiting list, the homeless, those desperate for more appropriate accommodation for their families, and doubtless the ludicrously high property prices which blight Oxford.

I do wonder how many of the people always fighting against the building of homes in Oxford are homeless themselves; my guess is that not a single one is in that unfortunate position.

There is no point in arguing, as the conservationists tend to do, that homes should be squeezed into central Oxford on brownfield sites.

That means tiny houses with tiny rooms and tiny gardens; totally unsuitable for families with children.

We simply have to accept that some green land has to be built on in order to remedy the appalling housing crisis in Oxford.

Nobody would suggest building on all green land, or even on most of it, but there’s enough scrubby, unused, unlovely green land around the city to house everyone in need.

Stuart Skyte, Oxford