We have sent a complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman: that OCC are deliberately fudging how they will replace the recreation ground, that they have mis-represented the results of consultations, that they are acting illegally etc. Our complaint seems to get longer by the day. We should get the results in 2024.
In early 2024 OCC will decide whether to appropriate the land on Bertie Park. We think this is not legal.
OCC want to apply for planning permission before the land has been appropriated. Maybe as early as 24th January? We don’t think that their plans follow government guidance.
There is a new local plan. OCC will send this to the Secretary of State to decide whether it is consistent with national policy. National policy says recreation grounds should be replaced by provision which is equivalent or better. In the new local plan, the requirement to reprovide Bertie Park has gone. We are challenging this.
Our local councillor has said that the fact that we are able to make representations on behalf of our community shows that local democracy is working. But it is a sorry state of affairs if OCC have to rely on members of the community to ensure that it acts within the law.
Save Bertie Park Oxford 