Yet again Witney is proposed as the site of 1,400 new homes on land north of the town, but I ask, what will it mean for Witney?

For the past 10 years or so, there has been an enormous increase in housebuilding but the consequences are far-reaching, and cut potentially deeper than we imagine – the emerging scenario is a lack of employment for Witney residents: New housing appears but what about more industry?

Surely the two go hand-in-hand – you can’t have one without the other.

The balance between localised employment and housing developments is definitely off-kilter. If there’s already a shortage of jobs in the Witney area, how does introducing another 1,400-plus residents help out the reduced job market for those seeking employment?

The new residents have got to work somewhere – at least 25 per cent would seek appropriate employment in the Oxfordshire area.

Immigration is an obvious factor for reduced job opportunities.

The solution: Witney needs more jobs, more factories and more suitable job opportunities.

Furthermore, every piece of potential land is used for housing, but why is it never considered for factory use? Whenever free land becomes available, it’s used for housing.

For Witney and Oxfordshire this is a growing problem that needs a solution before a possible job meltdown occurs.

New houses affect the local economy yes, but it’s a double-edged sword when local employment is so hard to find.

Additionally the strain on the roads around the town is immeasurable, even with the proposed West End Link thrown into the pot.

Flooding is also a problem that could arise which has caused serious problems in the past.

The new housing put forward for north Witney is a delicate subject, for and against – but if the boundaries of what’s plausible are breached, Witney may become a no-go area.

David Tinson Moorland Road Witney