It reflects badly on Oxford that the new Bodleian book depository will be built on an industrial estate in Swindon.

We do not seek to lay the blame at the door of one or other of the University or the city council, for it surely lies at both their doors.

We detect some pique in the University’s decision to take its depository to Swindon following the city council’s narrow decision to reject the proposal for Osney Mead.

Were there really no other sites in and around Oxford that could host a book store? The business park in Cowley is one that comes to mind.

Is it also not incumbent on the city council planners to find sites to satisfy the needs of such an important institution as the University of Oxford?

Together, the two institutions should have been able to resolve this planning dilemma.

The result is that jobs have been lost to neighbouring Swindon.

While the depository may not be a public face of the University of Oxford, its departure to Swindon is a matter of regret.