Sir — I hope that the last service that the Gloucester Green bus station will do this city is to remind planners of the folly of settling on a seemingly expedient solution to a transportation problem.


Gloucester Green is too small, too far from taxis, removed from city and many county bus services and quite a walk, with a suitcase, from the rail station. At least it has a car park.


It is good news (Report, April 18) that a plan for a joint bus and rail station is ‘in the pipeline’. Sadly in Oxford, history does seem to repeat itself. So I share the concern that there is not enough space at the current rail station site to provide a proper transport interchange covering rail, bus, long distance bus/coach, car, bicycle and foot.


Already one sees the suggestion that the ‘coach station’ should be at Redbridge. Is this coach as in tourist or as in airport/ London?


What other ‘compromises’ will be suggested in an effort to squeeze a quart into a pint pot?


Connectivity to the transport hub from all areas of the city and the near county is essential. From North Oxford, there are better bus services to Bicester North station than to Oxford. The planned Water Eaton station will be even more accessible but neither has the range of services that Oxford has. Whether you are in Summertown or Eynsham, the transport hub should be a bus ride away.
Please planners, learn from Gloucester Green but don’t reproduce it.


Vernon Porter, Oxford