Sir – Your report of July 17 was not quite accurate — I voted for the Northern Gateway Area Action Plan at the city council meeting on July 14.

Some consider that 8,000 new hi-tech jobs — helping to secure Oxford’s economic future — and 500 new homes, half of which will be affordable houses or flats, are of low priority.

I do not agree since, for me, both objectives are vital provided that the county and city plan and construct road improvements that ensure that the development does not worsen existing traffic congestion in the area.

The recent county exhibition of proposed Banbury and Woodstock roads’ roundabout improvements was part of that planning, which, together with an inner and outer relief road from the A40 to the A34 and A44 is planned to ease the present congestion after Northern Gateway is developed.

In passing, several times you quote incorrect figures for the area of the office-based research buildings — the inspectors approved 25,000 sq m by 2016, provided that road improvements are in hand and another 55,000 sq m when road improvements are finished after 2026.

The city planners have added another 10,000 sq m to replace the police/ ambulance/fire station emergency centre no longer required.

To suggest a new western relief road from the A40 to the A34, without any details of route [Green Belt?] or funding, is a longer- term objective certainly, but will delay by years the already approved Northern Gateway proposals in the Core Strategy — to Oxford’s detriment.

Mike Gotch, Lib Dem city councillor for Wolvercote