Sir – Oxford University is turning our fair city into a “forbidden city” for many of us, with many colleges now choosing to charge for admission to Oxfordshire residents.

Oxford is our county town yet it seems that residents are to be excluded from its majority. Could someone from the university explain to me the reasoning behind this narrow-minded restrictive policy?

Cities like Bath for example charge visitors for the Roman Baths, but crucially not residents.

It seems ungracious and quite frankly boorish for the university to treat locals like tourists. Oxford by virtue of its own very particular set-up is comprised mostly of colleges, most green spaces are its gardens and its architecture one of its main appeals.

Oxford will soon be an open-air museum with no life left in it apart from the one instilled momentarily by tourists and English school pupils. We have one of the most precious, stunning urban environments and restricted access to it. Most people I know won’t even visit Oxford any more. The “them and us” attitude, a little too pronounced and too indigestible for most.

Unless Oxford University decides to reject all taxpayers’ money and becomes a fully private institution I would suggest it starts showing a little more respect for locals.

I used to love this beautiful city, but I am sad that we are made to feel like intruders in our own county town. Oxford University whether it likes it or not is Oxford. And as such could do with being a little more understanding of its “duties”. We are not the enemy.

Cassandra Barrington-Harness, Witney