As many of you will have noticed and read in the local press, the Vaults & Garden in Radcliffe Square closed its doors for the last time on Wednesday after 22 years of service to the local community.

The popularity of the Vaults has been shown by the thousands of supporters who have signed this petition following a three-month eviction notice given by the vicar of the University church, the Revd Will Lamb, more than two years ago.

We addressed our petition first to the vicar but he was unmoved by your thoughts and pushed ahead with his plans to force out the cafe and replace it at a future date with his own creation at a reported cost of £750,000.

Your opinion of the unbecoming conduct of the vicar has been clearly stated in many adverse comments on our petition but he was clearly unmoved.

Our sympathies go out to Will Pouget, founder of the cafe, who has spent most of his working life creating one of Oxford’s most celebrated venues. We trust you will all support his new venture at 2 King Edward Street just across the High Street from the church.

The bachelor vicar, who is independently wealthy as a director and shareholder of his family company, William Lamb (Holdings) Ltd, a major shoe importer, will no doubt be very pleased to have succeeded in his eviction plans.

Unlike Will Pouget and his many employees who have lost their jobs, he enjoys the security of his incumbency and business together with the benefit of a £4.5 million house provided by the Diocese in one of north Oxford’s most exclusive streets.

Once again we thank you all who have supported our petition and we will continue to keep you informed about the new Vaults & Garden which we hope will become as popular as the first.

team@savethevaults.com