Sir – As a resident of Mill Street I was apalled to learn that a university department wishing to rent Trajan House (proposed site for the mega probation centre) had been put off by the fact that they would need to apply to the city planning department for change of use. The building is currently registered as ‘office use’ (B1), and to use the establishment for teaching they would have had to apply for ‘educational use’.

However Thames Valley Probation Service, who would by their own admission be using the building several evenings a week and on a Saturday for training sessions and workshops, would not have to apply for this. Surely this is grossly unfair?

In addition we have heard that the proposed probation centre would need to be fitted with some type of ‘holding cell’ for when violence erupts — this does not sound like any ‘office’ I have ever come across.

Amanda Whiting, Oxford