Sir – Your correspondent, Daniel Scharf, (Letters, August 23) misrepresents my views: I query the proposition that the adoption of a continental road crossing system should entail a ‘continental’ system of housing development.
I sought to establish that the production of family housing would be even more protracted than it currently is, given the addition of a talk-shop.
I agree that it would be more sensible to direct efforts towards providing housing better adapted to the needs of citizens no matter what century: fat chance of that, given the current system of procurement.
Developers get the land and seek to screw every last penny out of it: they can’t afford to build ‘affordables’. This results in areas of undistinguished, retrogressive, over-priced and technically devoid housing: but never mind, at least it’s ‘in keeping’.
As to the Barton West scheme, currently under discussion, I ask you does anyone think it sensible to put pedestrian crossings on the A40, leading to ‘nowhere’, leaving a great blob of housing just waiting to degrade to slum? People living on an estate such as Barton West would like to feel that they can walk/cycle safely to another part of Oxford offering services and interest, without having to get into a car and travel miles to get anywhere. The point of crossings is that they should facilitate the desire lines and not be lethal to persons making the trip.
Simon Norris, Oxford