Sir – The issue raised by Tony Joyce and the Oxford Civic Society in relation to the disfiguring of historic shop frontages in the centre of Oxford (Report, January 5) brings into focus a critical question: what kind of city do we want Oxford to be as the 21st century gathers momentum?
John Melvin makes the observation that he believes that Oxford is in danger of destroying what brings visitors to the city. This is surely the key point: a whole range of planning initiatives seem dangerously biased towards the maximization of commercial profit at the expense of the unique qualities of our city which bring countless thousands of visitors from all over the world to spend their money here!
But is is not all about visitors.
The new proposal to develop the A40 bypass will not serve the wider needs of those living in areas adjacent to the road and those using a very busy arterial route around Oxford.
At much the same time as we hear that Summertown must absorb a fourth supermarket, we have been told that the only viable parking area — behind Marks & Spencer and the Co-operative store — is to be redeveloped.
My summary point would be that, notwithstanding the need ‘to keep the city as a viable business centre’, we should resist any incontinent impulse to place commercial interests above what is unique and most cherishable in Oxford city.
Stuart McFarlane, Oxford
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