Sir – How long does it take to spend £3.6m?
Ian Hudspeth, the former county council cabinet member for transport, now leader of the council, wants to recover £3.6m repaid to housing developers, when the council failed to meet the 10-year spending deadline applied to their infrastructure contribution, for the failed Cogges Link Road project in Witney (Gazette, October 29).
I find it absolutely astonishing that the planning and management of that project by the council was so inept that we taxpayers simply hand back £3.6m to developers and landowners.
Someone needs to be accountable for the failed processes which gave rise to this financial loss and neglect, the results of which I continue to witness daily in the road outside my home, while the county council continues to pursue budget cuts.
Best wishes for the recovery process, but the developers do not seem to be too enthusiastic. Importantly, the council must ensure future planning agreements are more appropriately expressed.
T Nicholas, Woodstock Road, Witney
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 The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.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