Sir – After reading the letter by Helen Nicks (August 13), I couldn’t agree more about the need for consistency in planning decisions.

It seems to me that the decisions of West Oxfordshire District Council are very hit-and-miss.

I find that where one application is turned down for one reason, permission is granted for another site despite having the very same issues against it.

A point of note would be an application for 38 houses on the outskirts of Aston. This application had the full support of the planning officer and looked to be given the green light at the last planning meeting, yet in my view it neither constitutes in-filling or rounding off (to use the planner’s parlance).

The same can be said of an approved application for 18 houses in Long Hanborough.

But take the proposed 20 houses in North Leigh and you will see they were dismissed as not rounding off or in-filling, when it is clear, looking at an aerial view of the village, that they are.

Could the planning officers please indicate to me what then does constitute in-filling or rounding off?

I’m quite confused, and it appears they must be too.

While it may appear I am against these smaller developments, it is actually the opposite. I just hope for more consistency and transparency in the decision-making process.

In the case of the 700 homes proposed between Carterton and Brize Norton, which appear to be forging ahead despite much protest from all around, would it not be a better course of action to allow smaller more sustainable developments in each village, rather than one huge unsustainable (and unwanted) development in one place?

If each of the villages around the area were to have smaller developments, the county’s housing requirement would be easily fulfilled, but without the unmanageable impact of one of the proposed rabbit warrens that we are faced with in Carterton and Witney.

If the smaller developments were encouraged, rather than given the ‘not in my back yard’ treatment, perhaps current younger residents who wish to stay in their villages would be able to.

I’m not saying we should just grant licences to build houses wherever. Of course, each site needs careful consideration on a case-by-case basis.

But I, for one, would much prefer to see 10 houses going up in this village, six in that one and 20 over there than 700 here and 2,000 there.

But first we need to seriously look at the planning process and how these decisions are made and ensure that it is all sound.

Nick Hobbs, Station Road, Brize Norton