Sir – With petrol prices passing £1.30 per litre, could it be that rearranging Frideswide Square is more like the mythical deckchairs on the Titanic?

World oil production is expected to reach a maximum in the next year or two, after which it will decrease, as easy-to-pump crude has to be replaced by more “extreme” oil beneath deep oceans, the Russian Arctic, Canadian tar sands, and other sources that have more impact on the planet. Meanwhile, demand from developing countries will continue to increase worldwide.

Transport accounts for 56 per cent of our oil use; 95 per cent of transport in the UK relies on oil. We need to reduce both, and this means greater use of electric power.

Fortunately we have an efficient grid system, which allows power from any source, whether fossil-fuelled stations, nuclear, or renewable source, to be added or withdrawn incrementally.

In 2016, Oxford will see electric trains to London, but there are more opportunities for faster, less-polluting electric transport, including tramways and maybe tram-trains, that need to be planned for now.

Using public rather than private transport also reduces oil consumption. This choice is made more attractive by having centrally-designed, easy-to-use networks with good interchanges, as in London and much of continental Europe. Private companies could tender to run parts of this, instead of being allowed at their whim to run unconnected bus routes, familiar to Oxford’s residents.

Good connectivity between different modes of transport, whether train, bus, car or bicycle, is essential. This would be immensely helped by building a new, larger rail station at the Oxpens to accommodate the increasing number of rail services, and provide full interchange with buses (and later, trams) from all parts of Oxford. Save the cost of rebuilding Frideswide Square — there are better uses for the money.

Dr Andrew M. Pritchard, North Hinksey