Sir – I am bemused at your continued failure to mention WestOx Monorail in its extensive coverage of the A40 debate.

Our website has attracted nearly 4,000 unique worldwide visitors, from Auckland included, so we may well have played a significant role in last week’s front page story. It is important that your readers understand there is no connection (and little similarity) between the proposals of SkyCabs International and that of WestOx Monorail. However, it seems bizarre that your journalist would not seek the views of a local company that has worked for 18 months to assess the viability of a monorail between Witney and Oxford.

Even though we should welcome interest from an overseas company, I am unconvinced that the proposal from SkyCabs should be given any serious consideration. It would be high risk for the county council to support such unproven technology and I am sceptical as to whether approval would ever be granted to construct a guide way along the company’s suggested route to Bonn Square.

WestOx Monorail has proposed that proven technology from established suppliers is employed on a more viable, alternative route. We’ve had dialogue with a number of suppliers and SkyCabs is not the only foreign company with an interest. American Maglev Technology, from Georgia, has expressed to us a desire to enter the UK market and implement their technology on a Witney to Oxford rapid transit. Malaysian monorail provider, Scomi and Bombardier of Canada have both offered assistance to the WestOx proposal.

I understand Hugh Jaeger’s concerns regarding integration for onward travel, but there is no reason why a monorail scheme would necessarily fail to provide this. The scheme being proposed by WestOx Monorail is as integrated with other modes of transport as the tram or rail options recently presented to the public by OCC.

Witney mayor, Jim King, expresses concern at the cost estimate of £205m for the SkyCabs system. However, he must know that OCC’s tram and train options are estimated to cost £220m and £285m respectively, therefore SkyCabs’ proposition would not be precluded from consideration on cost. The question of funding applies to all of the options.

Although I feel the WestOx proposal is far more viable, I wish Hugh Chapman and his SkyCabs team every success in the forthcoming trials of his novel transport system.

Readers can visit the WestOx Monorail website (www.westoxmonorail.com) for more information.

David Leach (WestOx Monorail Ltd)
Taphouse Avenue
Witney