Sir - On July 19, I listened with great concern to the county council's decision to implement a Controlled Parking Zone in North Summertown, all of which is in the catchment area of the Rivers Thames and Cherwell. One reason for my opposition is based on the fact that this will lead to an extension of the environmentally damaging effect of further concreting over front gardens. Already, a report states that 23 square miles of London (the equivalent of 22 Hyde Parks) have been lost (Crazy Paving, London Assembly, 2005).
With the forecast of more extreme weather events, such as the one on July 20, one long-term effect of the decision by the council, despite their aim to mitigate the result of climate change, will be to lead to fewer gardens and more flooding.
Elaine Steane, Chairman, Sunnymead Environment Group, Oxford
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