The saga of Cornmarket Street reopens this week and, like everything associated with Oxford's jinxed shopping thoroughfare, there is already a problem.

The promise of a transparent inquiry appears to have been broken on day one since the launch of it will be behind closed doors.

The authorities involved say that tomorrow's meeting is just meant to be a getting-to-know-you session.

Inquiry chairman Rex Knight says it is to determine the scope of the inquiry.

If it is the former, where is the harm in allowing the public access?

If it is the latter, it is an essential part of the inquiry process and the discussions should be open to scrutiny.

This is not merely a question of procedural etiquette.

This investigation is all about the public's trust in its elected representatives and their officers, a trust that has been battered by bewildering over-expenditure, disruption and delays on the Cornmarket project.

Openness is not an optional extra -- it is a necessity. Please, Mr Knight, start as you mean to go on.