We deserve better than this ugly ‘shoe box’

We deserve better than this ugly ‘shoe box’

• share on Facebook
• share
  on Twitter
• share
  on Google+
• email
• (0) comments
• print

First published Monday 15 December 2014 in Letters

It seems to me that any member of a planning committee should possess a modicum of artistic ability and a sense of aesthetics.
This would assist in planning decisions where an artistic eye is needed such as the Port Meadow development.
Another planning eyesore is the over-large modernistic animal laboratory in South Parks Road.
This concrete monstrosity should never have been passed as the huge oppressive pillars jut onto the pavement blocking all daylight.
Today’s letters

• Seek to solve, rather than criticise councillor
• Police should act on the boulders in road issue
• Temple Cowley Pools and Gym is an asset
• This road crossing panto has really been a joke
• City centre car parking charges aren’t going up
• The answer is for people to start showing that we have the power
• Does this mean the club will not be using venue?
• I would like to thank official for her honesty

Finally, during a recent trip to the planning department, I had a good opportunity to look at the Westgate design.
The tall John Lewis building appears to herald the grand entrance of the new shopping centre.
This John Lewis building looks like an upturned shoe box. It is crass, vulgar and completely out of keeping with the historic nature of Oxford. Oxford is a beautiful city and deserves better designs than this ugly rectangle.
Therefore will all the budding Vermeers and Van Goghs in our planning department please endeavour to use their collective artistic skills and improve this shoe box tower block?
Otherwise I foresee another regret filled scenario when the full impact of the ugly entrance block design is realised.
SUSAN THOMAS Magdalen Road Oxford