IT IS very telling that almost one in three people who voted in the district council elections in the Bicester North ward were for an independent candidate standing on but one issue: opposition to the Bicester “eco-town” development.

Of course, the candidate didn’t win (the Conservatives have a long history of winning in such wards) but it shows the strength of feeling among the local residents that will probably be the most adversely affected by the development of this major new housing estate.

Maybe it is time to have fresh discussion and proper consultation on this development, rather than the contrived and biased output produced by self-interested parties keen to profit from such development that we’ve seen thus far.

ALAN BELL, Bicester