savebertiegmailcom

Labour silence on Bertie Park

Oxford City Council accept that “the overwhelming local community view … is that Bertie Park is needed.” Labour’s leaflet says they are “investing in our parks and shared spaces.” They’ve got “new play equipment” for Hinksey Park, Fox Crescent and Friars Wharf. But they want to shrink Bertie Park down to 20% of its size.Continue reading “Labour silence on Bertie Park”

What the candidates think about Bertie Park

I asked Rick Tanner, Siobhan Lancaster and Hannah Scott. Hannah Scott: Green Party Bertie Park wasn’t mentioned on the Green Party leaflet, so I asked Hannah Scott what she thought. She apologised for leaving it out. Hannah is against building on Bertie Park. She thinks there’s an urgent need for affordable and social housing, butContinue reading “What the candidates think about Bertie Park”

Problem with tall people using Bertie Park MUGA

Oxford City Council want to build on Bertie Park. Government policy says it has to be replaced with “equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location.” OCC have big problems with our Multi Use Games Area (MUGA). They want to put it 11m from bedroom windows. Thames Valley PoliceContinue reading “Problem with tall people using Bertie Park MUGA”

List of Oxford parks, recreation grounds and allotments “suitable for development”

Oxford’s Office and Research and Development space is increasing by 72%. OCC say this a “seismic shift” in the city’s economy (read here p.6). So our housing crisis will only get worse. All parks, recreation grounds and allotments are now “Green Infrastructure.” The following “parcels” of land are now considered grey belt, and suitable forContinue reading “List of Oxford parks, recreation grounds and allotments “suitable for development””

Save Britain’s Recreation Grounds

We are taking a petition to Downing Street (sign here). The government is consulting on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This controls how councils make local plans and how they make decisions. The changes will mean NO recreation ground will be safe from development. The existing NPPF says: The government want toContinue reading “Save Britain’s Recreation Grounds”

OCC can’t answer Bertie Park speech

We talked to council on 26th January. OCC’s policy for Bertie Park says our recreation ground has to be re-provided. OCC always knew this was impossible: The planning application was submitted 2 1/2 years ago … Thames Valley Police are worried about crime, anti-social behaviour and community conflict if the development goes ahead: Recent OCCContinue reading “OCC can’t answer Bertie Park speech”

Thorny problem for Bertie Park

Bertie Park Recreation ground has a play area with 14 items of equipment. So, when the council’s first drawings showed only 4, we complained. They reassured us that there could be “as many as 9 items of equipment” in their new play area. We wondered how. Now we know! The new plans show a toddlerContinue reading “Thorny problem for Bertie Park”

What the police say about Bertie Park

The MUGA and the play area are very close to homes. There are 2 problems with this: OCC want to build a long, narrow footbridge between Bertie Park and the land behind Wytham Street (site B). There’ll be “no option for escape” if someone is “approached by a hostile actor.” Site B “does not haveContinue reading “What the police say about Bertie Park”

Bertie Park gives OCC a headache!

Thank you to all who took part in the recent consultation! In spite of the rain, we got 88 people to comment this time around. There are now 3 who support, and 357 objections to OCC’s plans for Bertie Park. Any homes built on Bertie Park have to be safe from flooding now and inContinue reading “Bertie Park gives OCC a headache!”

Council forced to dig up MUGA

This October, Derbyshire residents took their parish council to court after problems with antisocial behaviour and noise from a MUGA (Multi Use Games Area). The Parish council was forced to dig up the MUGA. Article: Council demolishes play area after noise complaints. Sport England recommends 30 to 40 metres between MUGAs and homes to avoidContinue reading “Council forced to dig up MUGA”