Sir – Controversial Northern Gateway scheme gets go-ahead was your headline on December 23. The report on the examination into the Oxford core strategy development plan is online at www.oxford.gov.uk/Direct/ CoreStrategyFinalInspectorsReport.pdf And it insists that “Securing measures to mitigate impact on the road network” is a necessary pre-condition to the building of the Northern gateway business park going ahead . . .

“ The Northern Gateway lies at the focus of three extremely busy main roads, the A34 trunk road, the A40 and A44; all of which suffer from very high levels of traffic; the most congested area in Oxfordshire and one of the most stressed parts of the road network in the whole South East . . .”

The inevitable knock-on effect on the whole ring road is obvious.

No feasible solution to this problem has been suggested so far by anyone.

The effects of noise, air pollution and rat running, on the surrounding areas are briefly touched on, but the report talks of the effect on Port Meadow and other special areas of conservation which are only 100 yards from the proposed development.

“Paragraph 4.148 . . . some development could go ahead without an adverse effect on integrity of the Oxford Meadows SAC, but an adverse effect on integrity from the proposed levels in the strategic allocations cannot be ruled out at this stage . . .

“Hydrology and air quality are the likely problems.” That means possible flooding caused by this development and pollution from the extra traffic.

Engage is a group of local people concerned about the Northern gateway. Look online at engage-oxford.org.uk/ If you don’t have access to the Internet telephone 01865 922244, or write to 398 Woodstock Road, OX2 8JW, for more information. Please raise this issue with your councillor.

Lorna Logan, Wolvercote