Sir – When we go to the Botanic Garden, or the Jacqueline du Pré Concert Hall, we park in St Clements car park.

We are in our 70s. Other than a few half-hour bays on St Clements, that is the only available car park in this unique shopping and eating area. We have been using this car park for more than 20 years and can think of no other for The High, St Clements or the Cowley Road.

Oxford City Council are selling this, our car park, for £3.5m! The developers have already given a non-returnable deposit to our council, subject to getting planning permission for 141 student rooms.

Oxford City Council are indeed the body which grants planning permission. How is this democratic? Permission has not yet been granted and yet the car park has already been sectioned off and the JCBs and builders have started work.

Is the notion of democracy totally ignored by our city council? Who is Oxford City Council working for?

Pat and George Mackin, Oxford