Will we ever see the long-awaited redevelopment of the Westgate Centre in Oxford?

While other cities have moved into the 21st century and are enjoying the benefits of increased trade and tourism, our plans are stuck firmly on the drawing board. And still the arguments rumble on.

The latest deadlock is over transport. Earlier plans for a bus hub at the heart of the shopping complex have been deleted.

The debate is now focusing on a bus turning circle on the Worcester Street car park, but that idea has fallen foul of plans to create a canal basin at the site.

Developers are already predicting that the new Westgate won't open until 2011 at the earliest.

Our councillors need to get a move on if we are not to fall even further behind rival shopping centres.