OCC cabinet will meet on 16th October to decide whether to appropriate Bertie Park for building. The 1972 Local Government act says that Councils can only appropriate a park if it isn’t needed. So OCC has to show that their new recreation facilities will do everything that Bertie park does. Not easy!
The Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) will be 24% smaller. We think it may be the wrong shape for 5-a-side football. Downgrading facilities for young adults is worrying, especially as there will be 300 new homes on Redbridge Meadow and no facilities for young adults.
Bertie Park has a large area of grass for free play. This will be replaced by a nature trail. A nature trail is not for free play. Police say the nature trail will be unsafe for unaccompanied children. So, where do the council say that the kids can run around? The new MUGA.
That is why, in last week’s Oxford Mail article on Bertie Park, OCC said: “In making the decision cabinet should strike a balance between different land uses in the light of wider community interests, taking a broad view of local needs.”
But that’s not what the 1972 Local Government Act says. The cabinet meeting that will decide the future of Bertie Park will start at 6.00 p.m. on 16th October. Meet outside St Aldates at 5.45 to support the campaign. Here is the speech that we have sent to OCC for approval.
There is a huge amount of paperwork for the meeting. Email: Savebertie@gmail.com for links or further information.
Save Bertie Park Oxford 