Sir – Chiltern Railways intends unilaterally to rename Bicester Town station Bicester Village, ignoring the many objections voiced, despite the very limited window of opportunity so to do.

I’m sure I’m one of many who believe they have no moral right to do this.

The new station is being constructed by a national agency – Network Rail – partly with public funds.

But much more than this, any station is a public amenity, whose name should reflect the town or village it serves, and not a nearby private business.

The shopping centre called Bicester Village is not a village, by any description.

Presumably, if Chiltern is allowed to rebuild the line through Cowley as well, it will name the station there BMW.  It would be no more ridiculous or offensive.

Naming stations after a nearby business, which may no longer exist in a decade or two, will also destroy value in the railway map. It will be confusing, to say the least.

It boasts that the hostility to its plan is "balanced" by its own telephone poll where 49 per cent favoured the change. 

A web-based poll conducted by Bicester Traffic Action Group had more respondents, the overwhelming majority of whom opposed it.

But this is not how we take such decisions in this country. 

If Chiltern wishes to go ahead with this, it needs to win the support of our elected representatives, after sufficient time for public debate.

They have already moved the stop for the train-replacement bus service into the shopping centre, with virtually no warning or genuine justification, giving residents an additional 15min walk from the town centre.

This is no way for a train operator to behave. Chiltern is losing our confidence and trust.

Dr Ian East, Chairman, Oxford-Bicester Rail Action Group, Islip