“The reason (Bertie Park) was considered above other parks in the city was because it was previously a landfill site so was designated as a Brownfield site – a site that had previously been developed. The site was also allocated for development before any play equipment had been installed”.
Statement relayed to the campaign 18.10.22
There are a couple of problems with this.
- Bertie Park recreation ground has been part of our community since 1938. Local residents say it has always had play equipment, except during the war when it was used as allotments.
- Bertie Park is not a brownfield site. The council’s own definition of brownfield land “excludes open spaces and land where the remains of previous use have blended into the landscape, or have … amenity use and cannot be regarded as requiring development”. 2036 Local Plan. p217
- OCC did not use waste for landfill in this area, but land-raising to prevent flooding. It is not fair that our area can’t have a recreation ground simply because most of it is built on landfill.
- If Bertie Park was “considered above other parks”, this means OCC considered building on other parks and recreation grounds as a way to solve Oxford’s housing crisis. If they build on Bertie, which recreation ground will be next?
Save Bertie Park Oxford 