Sir - The ancient right of way through the BMW plant is now to close. BMW and the county council won their case and it is likely that there are no grounds for appeal. The Ramblers Association and the British Horse Society objected to the planned closure on a point of principle and they are now confronted with a costs claim from the county council in the region of £50,000. BMW has benefited enormously from this closure of a public right of way.

Apart from the obvious convenience to the company, the value of the site must have increased considerably as a result of the closure. Place these facts against the fact that the costs to the RA and the BHS will come from the pockets of ordinary people, many of whom live in Oxford, could not BMW offer to help the RA and the BHS pay for the costs? It would be a small price to pay for BMW and a welcome gesture.

Tony Dale, Oxford