Sir – At the risk of opening old wounds I would like to suggest that a review is undertaken for a traffic route across Christ Church meadow.

The proposal by the county council for the sem-pedestrianisation of the city centre streets come at a cost. Bus hubs would have to be established and a shuttle along the High would discourage bus usage despite the best intentions of the county.

Sharp in his Oxford Replanned in 1948 suggested a Merton Mall across Christ Church Meadow to free The High from traffic, but at some environmental cost. The merit in the proposal was acknowledged in the fact that it was 20 years before it was abandoned.

Road engineering has moved in 60 years and it would not be possible to construct a road using ‘cut and cover’ techniques without creating unacceptable environmental damage.

From Speedwell Street, a tunnel could be constructed across the meadow below surface level and crossing the Cherwell by a low-level bridge to join The Plain.

All the traffic, which at present uses the High could be diverted along this new route.

The route would mostly be on private land to which the public has no access. Of course there would probably be some environmental cost, but a traffic-free High would probably be worth the price.

The construction costs would probably be in the region of one or more Titians and of considerably more practical value.

A. Watson, Oxford