Sir - Proposed eco-towns at Weston-on-the-Green or Shipton-on-Cherwell are certainly most worrying, particularly given the secrecy that the Government is exhibiting in developing them. I do not think the Shipton proposals will run. There are good transport reasons for opposing them.

The Weston-on- the-Green proposal is more difficult. It offers a shiny new town growing to 15,000 homes with trams; a huge park-and-ride next to a brand new Parkway rail station; cars will be discouraged and public transport will be plentiful and mainly free; there will be employment space, enabling people to walk or cycle to their work; there will be schools and health facilities, a new high street and, the developers promise, a whole lot more.

What are the downsides? There are quite a lot. This will lead to the concreting over of acres of green fields. It will join up a small village to a large town. I am not sure the eco-friendly policies will work - if you design a town not to have cars but people still drive them up to their front doors, you have chaos. If they succeed in banning cars, how will families get the weekly shop home?

Worryingly, if it works, this eco-town could present a stark contrast as a shiny, new eco-friendly town to Bicester which has, sadly, lagged behind in developing its retail offer, its social infrastructure and in growing a high-wage, high added-value economy.

The real threat is that this will do nothing for Bicester but cast it into the shade. If this eco-town is to happen, and it is a big if, it must bring real benefits and significant improvement to Bicester. The wealth it creates must, in part, accrue to Bicester. My worry is whether local councils and local people will have any say in the process.

Keith Mitchell, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council