Sir – Such is the cloak-and-dagger secrecy surrounding the Green Belt Review, it is even hard to tell whether or not it is already under way. The Green Belt is a much loved and effective part of our planning system, protecting the countryside against urban sprawl and, in Oxford’s case, also preserving the character and setting of the city itself.

 

The likely outcome of any Green Belt Review would be a significant push for development — otherwise why would our local authorities be bothering?

 

Oxford city is clearly in favour of it as yet another opportunity to pursue their long-held expansionist plans at sites such as Grenoble Road; Kidlington and north of Abingdon.

 

CPRE remains of the belief that a review would be an unnecessary waste of public money, as one of the main characteristics of a Green Belt is its permanence.

 

Any decision to go down this route should, therefore, be taken openly in a publicly accountable forum, rather than behind closed doors. If it were to go ahead, we would also want to see a transparent and thorough public consultation on both the terms of the review and its draft findings.

 

It is hard to have any faith that this is going to happen, given the secretive way it is already being discussed and the ridiculously short timescales that seem to suggest it will all be done and dusted by June.

 

People who are concerned can see some of the sites particularly at risk by looking at the ‘threats to the Green Belt map’ on the CPRE Oxfordshire website www.cpreoxon.org.uk

 

Helen Marshall, Director, CPRE Oxfordshire