SO, Botley needs a skatepark as a panacea for the leisure needs of our young people (Judi Bolder, et al, July 8).

With the imminent Vale of White Horse District Council planning committee movement on the West Way development, the prospect of no shops for a couple of years and eviction of people from Field House, people simply have more important things to worry about than the lack of a skatepark.

There are several of these around Oxford City already, the previous bowl was destroyed by a burned-out, stolen van, so it will be interesting to see how much the insurance alone on any replacement would cost the public purse.

It really is time to move on and plan towards better leisure facilities for all.

Let’s have a proper consultation with everybody in North Hinksey on what is needed, suitable, inclusive and good value for money.

Some councillors who were at the recent meeting, thankfully, did vote for a much wider review instead of having leisure inextricably linked to a skatepark.

I didn’t see this need come out of Doric’s consultations.

Given the huge amount of concrete that might soon be on order for Botley, discussions on putting one within West Way (under cover so it could be used all year round?) and run by the Vale district council might have been very appropriate.

JOHN MARRIOTT Lime Road Botley

Today’s letters

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