THE application to demolish 21/23 Wallingford Street, Wantage (Oxford Mail, February 13), was passed by the Vale of White Horse District Council despite overwhelming opposition from the town council, a petition, articles and letters in the local press, 30 letters of objection and, to be fair, one in favour.
These appalling decisions will continue to be made as long as the public do not have the right of appeal enjoyed by developers.
The Government’s planning Green Paper talks about more decision-making power for local communities but in reality they will have even less say, because the increasingly aggressive applications by developers will be upheld on appeals.
The system must be changed so that councils are as frightened about losing appeals from the public as they are at present from the developers.
Oppose the Green Paper and campaign for rights for the public to equal those of the developers.
TERRY RANDALL, Grove Street, Wantage
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