YOUR report that car numbers are down at the Westgate car park by 26,000 proved interesting reading.

You touched on the fact that while the redevelopment of Westgate is on hold, a major new shopping development is due to open in Witney in the autumn, and there is talk of work starting on a shopping development in Bicester.

The hike in car parking charges at the Westgate multi-storey cannot be solely to blame for the drop-off in those parking at Westgate.

It’s about time our city fathers asked themselves why many people living in and around Oxford make shopping a day out and go to the new and large shopping centres like the Oracle in Reading and Eden in High Wycombe.

These shopping magnets outside Oxford provide one thing the shopping public want – choice. There is very little variety of shops in Oxford, and as a shopping centre it is frankly appalling. This was recognised by the city council in its West End Plan.

I find Abingdon (despite the lack of shops) a more pleasant shopping experience than Oxford, merely because of the hassle of getting into Oxford.

With the new Westgate Centre put on hold, what is happening to the scheme for a new shopping lane between St Aldate’s and Queen Street which its promoters said it could build despite the credit crunch?

This development would be the start to the regeneration of the shopping area of Oxford and would make pedestrian shopping in the city a more pleasant experience.

TIM HOUSE Weirs Lane Oxford