Sir – West Oxfordshire District Council has wisely arranged four exhibitions and have produced a free leaflet as part of the consultation process for the draft Local Plan for West Oxfordshire.

While it is unlikely that the redevelopment of the former Ministry of Defence sites in Carterton will be controversial, many of us have strong views regarding the fact that the council have diverted from their original plan to develop the area to the west of Carterton in favour of the East option.

At the end of the day, we are building houses for families to live in and enjoy.

Who in their right mind would choose to live in a house with an airfield view, when the Carterton West option would provide a greenfield view?

Apparently this is the choice the council has made on behalf of future residents in our beloved area.

The council agrees there is no easy fix to the congestion on the A40 and other roads that are gridlocked at peak times now.

With few jobs available in the immediate area, new residents will be forced to use their cars to travel to Oxford or even further afield.

So, to summarise, the draft Local Plan offers 700 families the chance to gaze out over Britain’s largest military airfield while being subjected to daily commuting hell.

Can this really be considered good planning?

We have until December 19 to respond and air our views. Hopefully sanity will prevail.

As they say in show business, it’s not over until the fat lady sings.

Keith Beckingham, Manor Road, Brize Norton