Sir – I am concerned that South Oxfordshire District Council may still have unrealistic expectations for the Didcot Gateway site.

Your article (Herald, February 10) suggested that the location of Lydalls Nursery School still needs to be resolved. This is very worrying for parents who have children at the school.

SODC have been producing designs for the site since July 2013, despite not owning the school.

The scheme which has just been approved includes the school at the eastern end of the site.

It is not clear why John Cotton, the leader of SODC, thinks he needs a “deal” with the leader of Oxfordshire County Council.

SODC need to understand that this is a school. It has excellent facilities and is ideally located to meet the needs of young children, wherever they live in our rapidly growing town.

SODC need to be honest with the public. They should recognise that they will have to provide an equivalent facility on an equally central site if they want to make progress with redeveloping this area of Didcot.

It’s high time they stopped creating worry and confusion.

Councillor Nick Hards
Oxfordshire County Council
Didcot West Division