SO, as if there was not enough useful work to be done, Oxford City Council has taken to tearing down tree houses on the usual health and safety and public liability grounds. It’s just as well they weren’t in power in more imaginative times.
Winnie the Pooh would have been evicted on the grounds that his tree house showed evidence of honey misuse.
Robinson Crusoe would have fallen foul of a smoking ban.
The Swiss Family Robinson would have been given a demolition order for not seeking planning permission.
Swallows and Amazons would have been accused of piracy and hostage-taking and Tarzan’s vines would have been cut down in case he fell off and sued the Jungle Council for negligence.
But then, I can only suppose that the height of these council officials’ imagination is in finding new ways to alienate those whom it would do better to encourage.
MARTIN ROBERTS, Stone Close, Botley, Oxford
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