Two good ideas (From The Oxford Times)

Two good ideas

6:50am Thursday 4th February 2010 in

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Sir – Two good ideas for Oxford in one week! The suggestions of the Crown Estate taking over Westgate and city council compulsory purchase of the Jericho boatyard are developments in the right direction.

Being public land, the Westgate land ought to stay public. The next positive step would be a community planning exercise, focusing on the local need for affordable housing, community space, and small business units.

These should form the heart of any new proposal. Public authorities, holding such assets for the nation on behalf of us taxpayers, should re-learn how to use them for public benefit, with community sustainability in mind.

They should not just serve as risk-absorbers for private corporations, as has happened to council housing stock, railway franchises, and the banks.

Dr Kaihsu Tai and councillor Sushila Dhall, Oxfordshire Green Party