http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/opinions/letters/ The Oxford Times /news/opinions/letters/ en-gb Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:33:37 +0000 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:33:37 +0000 http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/opinions/letters/rssterms/ M6 nvincent@newsquest.co.uk (Nigel Vincent) webmaster@digitalmedia.newsquest.co.uk (Tim Joy) http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/resources/images/999282/?type=rsslogo http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/opinions/letters/ http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/opinions/letters/5051289.Dismay_at_lack_of_school_places/?ref=rss Sir – I have recently become a community governor of Wolvercote Primary School, Wolvercote is still a genuine village with a strong sense of community and it thrives. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0000 a6aa204ae22fd2aa6ed647424dc22ae6 http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/opinions/letters/5051291.Respect_20mph_limit/?ref=rss Sir– In your issue of March 4 you quote the chairman of the Oxford Group of the Institute of Advanced Motorists as saying that every piece of evidence in his possession shows that 20mph speed limits do not save lives. If he is seriously interested in evidence he clearly needs to widen his collection. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0000 7d8e10d1fc6b281d483fc8f4f555bdd2 http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/opinions/letters/5051293.Council_knows_best/?ref=rss Sir – You note (Report, March 4) that most people exceed the 20mph speed limit. I’m not sure this is interesting or surprising — many people routinely exceed speed limits. If you stand on the Woodstock Road in Oxford on a Friday night (limit 30mph), you’ll see a lot of people driving in excess of 40. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0000 46212d7fa666a54fcd682f87d56f8d91 http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/opinions/letters/5051296.Riding_roughshod/?ref=rss Sir – Having read through the notes of the Oxford Core Strategy examination procedural meeting held at Oxford Town Hall on February 9, and attended previous meetings, there is only one thing to say to the inspector about the Northern Gateway: No! The slick patter from the Northern Gateway Consortium, like that from the mouths of politicians, is so utterly untrustworthy with its commercial agenda, spin and patronising overtones, and is also out of step with the citizens of Oxford. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0000 b059e762b08e8e3116cf63849b5c07af http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/opinions/letters/5051300.Undiminished_status/?ref=rss Sir – Chris Koenig, in his welcome reflections on Isaiah Berlin (Remembering an Oxford Genius, Weekend, February 25), refers to “the heated debate going on (for instance in The Times Literary Supplement and the New York Review of Books) about Sir Isaiah’s reputation and standing”, a ‘heat’ which needs to be put into context. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0000 6738a08d260ca9a56584859ed321e54d http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/opinions/letters/5051302.Creative_thought_needed/?ref=rss Sir – Residents, students, and workers in Oxford need to be aware that the controversial proposal to massively commercially expand the Westgate shopping centre is back, after its planning permission lapsed this month, because all Capital Shopping has done in the past three years is demolish the attractive Victorian pub that used to brighten up Oxpens Road. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0000 30784ddd27fd7ec5a64435dc47f48a34 http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/opinions/letters/5051304.Radical_solutions/?ref=rss Sir – The potential to redesign the whole of the West End of the city gives scope for some radical solutions to some of Oxford’s problems. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0000 d2910344fe8e9262602c34d5506709d7 http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/opinions/letters/5051307.Safety_is_top_priority/?ref=rss Sir – I would like to clarify the situation regarding the Friday night sessions held at the Sweatbox youth centre in Wantage. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0000 a33545c5bffbec6bc8c43d70ae72ea77 http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/opinions/letters/5051311.One_sided_perspective/?ref=rss Sir – I am sure many of your readers with an interest in education will be as saddened as I am to see The Oxford Times uncritically publicising one parent’s campaign against the headteacher of Rose Hill Primary School (School threat to sue mother over criticism, March 4). Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0000 c0e38d94e07cc9012a6f4514e7e39ae5 http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/opinions/letters/5051316.Head_in_the_sand/?ref=rss Sir – My sympathies go to Samantha Barson who has problems with a child being bullied at an Oxford school. We had a similar experience ten years ago, at a different Oxford school, right down to attempts to intimidate the parents to prevent them from making a fuss. Actually, isn’t that bullying too? We, too, were assured that bullying in the school was rare and quickly and effectively dealt with, but once we had given up and withdrawn our son to home-school him, we met a number of other families who had had similar experience to ours. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0000 e8c82de791a392bf5031c43fc3859a83