Sir – Mr Fawcett (Letters, March 22) should know that the new rail service from Oxford to Marylebone — with a new station at Water Eaton — has been widely welcomed in North Oxford and any delay in formal approval has been caused by the statutory duty of the inquiry inspector to require mitigation measures to protect the welfare of the bats that commute through the rail tunnel under the Wolvercote roundabout.
Wolvercote residents did ask the inspector, during the public inquiry, to protect local families and the primary school from the sound and vibration effects of many more and faster freight and passenger trains on the new dualled tracks — with a lower speed limit and vibration protection under the rails, but he chose not to comply with their request.
This is Britain, you understand and bat welfare is more important than that of people.
Mike Gotch, Oxford city councillor, Wolvercote
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here