Sir – I am writing to thank all the dedicated residents of Witney who attended Witney Town Council’s planning meeting at the Langdale Hall last Tuesday evening.

The first item on the list of planning applications was the hugely contested application for 270 houses in Witney’s beautiful Windrush Valley – the Burford Road development.

This ill-thought-out plan, to ruthlessly desecrate this essential rural buffer between the open countryside and suburbia was met with passionate objections from everybody present, including the planning committee, and Witney’s town folk.

I don’t need to reiterate why this planning proposal is so diabolical, as most of Witney, and the Windrush Valley Protection Group have already given the many reasons why, but I do have to say how heartening it was to see so many people turn out to make a democratic statement on Tuesday. It makes me proud to be part of such a town.

Now this application is in the hands of West Oxfordshire District Council Planning Department, let’s hope the strong voices of Witney’s residents, and the 1,220+ signatures on the Windrush Valley Protection Group’s online petition truly resonate in committee members’ minds during their decision making.

David Snow, Independent town and district councillor, Witney North ward