Sir – Tucked away on page 70 of The Oxford Times on June 23 was a formal notice issued by the county council’s director for environment and economy announcing that an order had been made on June 20 for the closure of virtually the entire city centre on Sunday, June 26, for a sponsored run between 9am and 11am (noon in the case of some streets). The public was informed that the order and associated maps could be inspected at the council offices.

That was it! One working day in which to seek advice or register a protest. No attempt at consultation, and no consideration for the needs of church-goers or concert-goers, or people attending conferences at colleges, or parents collecting students and their belongings at the end of term.

Cars and buses backed up at the roundabout beyond Magdalen Bridge, trying to enter the High Street. Race marshals seemed confused and gave contradictory advice to enquirers.

The city centre is already a no-go area for the general public on Sunday mornings in May (for the Town and Gown Run) and December (for the ‘Santa fun run’).

According to a recent report in The Oxford Times, a new half-marathon is due to take place on city streets on the morning of September 25.

Is it acceptable to close off virtually the entire city to traffic on four occasions each year?

Nobody wants to stop people having fun, or raising money for good causes, but why should such events not take place in a public park or the Kassam Stadium, rather than curtailing everyone else’s freedom of movement, freedom of assembly and freedom of worship?

Catherine Robinson, Oxford