I WAS dismayed when I read the article Battling pensioner dies at 88, as the story implied that Beryl Mitchell held up plans for new council housing by her refusal to move out (Oxford Mail, June 14).

Mrs Mitchell was not selfish and as an owner-occupier fought for her rights. She wanted to be treated fairly and not be bullied by council officials to sell her property to them for peanuts.

Unknown to her, the council had drawn up plans for housing on the Lambourn Road development site, which included her property, and applied for planning permission.

Also a council report showed that money had been set aside to purchase her property under the power of a compulsory purchase order.

If Mrs Mitchell had wanted to be vindictive, she could have applied for planning permission for a two-storey, two-bedroom house on her property, which could have jeopardised the whole development – and undoubtedly lost Government funding.

She refused my offer for the preparation of plans, as she did not want to antagonise the council and felt that matters could be amicably settled – which eventually did happen.

I would like everyone to know that Mrs Mitchell was not the cause of the hold-up of building work: it was the failure of the council by abusing its powers and not approaching her earlier.

VIM RODRIGO, Rivermead Road, Rose Hill, Oxford