Sir — I write as chairman of New Marston (South) Residents' Association in response to your lead article about the city's emerging development plan (Report, October 17).

The association recognises that more housing is needed in Oxford although we remain vigilant about where it goes and how it is designed and integrated into our existing communities. We have just put in our response to the latest planning policy proposals (Core Strategy) asking that equal concern is shown towards sewage flooding in Oxford as is now being given to river/surface water flooding. New Marston and other communities (such as Northway) continue to suffer frequent sewage flooding on our streets and private property as a result of excess load on the antiquated sewerage system in the north-east sector of the city.

All the outfall from the sector focuses down to a single pipe crossing the River Cherwell at St Clements church. This bottleneck means frequent overflow as the system backs up with consequent filth flowing on our streets and in and around houses. Our evidence to the council points out the serious public health risks created by this problem.

For these reasons we have objected strongly to new developments such as the 800 houses proposed on land at Barton. The city council must not allow development that adds to the problem until Thames Water Utilities provides new infrastructure to deal with the abomination of raw sewage flooding in Oxford.

Roy Darke, Oxford