Sir – It’s easy to understand St John Dickson’s frustration with the Vale district council’s planning department decision to allow commercial development of the police site (Herald, July 8), but I fear the horse has bolted.
This land and the two buildings on it were publicly owned and who disposes of it comes down to who wields the power.
As long as the district council can decide for Wantage and its citizens what is best for Wantage it will continue to be the case that the town council works with rubber teeth.
Even if there is a referendum on an agreed newly-proposed Wantage town development plan, it will have no status if it can be changed at will by the district council.
This government, now and in its last term of office, promised more local accountability, but it is clear to some that even the little that was available is rapidly disappearing with their push to build on every scrap of land.
Its sustainable development nonsense only allows you to say yes not no.
Terry Randall
Grove Street
Wantage
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