Scaffolding reflected in Oxford Canal

The floods have made the waters of the Oxford canal very clear. The scaffolding is rather more attractive than the building it conceals.

Boats and cranes on Port Meadow

Developers rule here in Oxford, thanks to compliant planners and spineless councillors. Their cranes lie between the spires and domes of Oxford and the boats and picnic parties on Port Meadow.

Contrasting images of Oxford

In the foreground Oxford more or less untouched since the Iron Age - actually Port Meadow. In the background, Oxford more or less as it has appeared since Wren's day - a series of stately towers, spires and domes. At right, Oxford as it will be - two of the many cranes which tower over the place. Catch the view while you can, before the planners stamp their own image on the place.

Port Meadow cranes in silhouette

The work which these cranes are doing will ruin the southern view of Port Meadow for ever. The cranes themselves, however, are strangely beautiful

Oxford Planners and Port Meadow

Most of the photographs in this collection show either beautiful things on Port Meadow or beautiful buildings in Oxford city.

Between them lies the contribution which Oxford's planning officers and councillors make to the city. The Radcliffe Camera, the University Church and the spire of Lincoln Library disappear behind a crass block of flats which will dominate the southern end of Port Meadow.

Destroying Oxford's Skyline

Isn't this beautiful? An old-fashioned canal barge potters past ancient Port Meadow on the fringes of Oxford. The view has been cherished and preserved by generations of those who love and appreciate the value of the landscape.

But here come the City of Oxford Planning Department - crass and architecturally-illiterate, indifferent to the appearance of the city, too idle to consider the impact on the view, plodding through their form-filling.

A big developer can make millions by dumping a huge block of flats bang in the middle of all this beauty. Standing in their way means work. It is much easier just to let them have their way. The residents have no right of appeal, so they can be ignored, and most of the councillors will do as they are told - just hint that an appeal will cost money out of their budget and they will approve anything.

This is what the man on the barge is looking at.

The man in charge of planning at Oxfrd City Council is called Michael Crofton-Briggs. Let him know what you think by sending him an e-mail at mcrofton-briggs@oxford.gov.uk

The councillors and planners will not stop here. For more on the plans to turn Oxford into Gotham City see Oxford plans its ruin on our sister site.

Cranes over Port Meadow

The photograph serves as a motif for Oxford Inciter.

In the foreground is Port Meadow, 374 acres of open land which lies between the River Thames and North Oxford. A canal boat moors on the Thames. Behind are trees and, invisible beyond them, a railway line laid down in 1846 and Oxford Canal, opened in 1790.

In the background are the tower of Magdalen College, the Radcliffe Camera, the University Church, Exeter College Chapel and Lincoln College Library.

In between, and looming over all of it, is a pile driver, two cranes, and a vulgar new red building bringing us rudely into the 21st Century.

Oxford Inciter's Logo

Oxford Inciter's logo showing a crane looming over the towers and spires of Oxford.

The visible ones from left are the Radcliffe Camera, the University Church, Exeter College Chapel, Lincoln College Library, St Aldate's Church, Tom Tower at Christ Church, St Barnabas Church in Jericho and Nuffield College.

Since this photograph was taken, three enormous white cranes appear in this view. They are strangely beautiful. The luxury flats which they are building will not be.