WE ARE clearly in the run up to the local elections.

Councillor Anne Purse attacks South Oxfordshire District Council for not sending ‘a clear and unequivocal message in support of Green Belt policies’ (Oxford Mail, April 21) but is she not aware that it was her candidate in the Henley by-election who sent the message to a local resident that “the Liberal Democrats can not totally rule out reviewing the green belt”.

Indeed, from her own letter it seems that she herself is happy to build affordable houses in the Green Belt.

Let’s be clear; we remain totally opposed to the massive building proposed in the Green Belt at Grenoble Road, Oxford, and have already minimised some of its impact if the Government insists it goes ahead.

In Berinsfield, there is a Green Belt ‘wash’ across the whole village – including the built-up area which currently makes development there, even on brownfield land, extremely difficult. This is an intolerable restriction on a village which is doing well to move beyond the problems it has historically faced.

As Wheatley is not in the Green Belt, development within the village boundary is already possible. But existing constraints make further development difficult.

Wheatley is an important centre and we want to maintain its services and vibrancy. This is unlikely to be easy without some additional housing, especially for older people.

If people do not want this to be done by building beyond the village envelope we are open to suggestions.

After all this is what our consultation is all about.

ANGIE PATERSON, Cabinet Member for Planning, South Oxfordshire District Council