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16th October

On 16th October OCC’s cabinet will decide whether to appropriate Bertie Park for building. Even if a local authority already owns a recreation ground, they must appropriate it first before they can build on it. If they can’t appropriate, they can’t build! “Appropriation” is not a paper exercise, but has real consequences for our community.Continue reading “16th October”

The Bertie Park Mystery

Oxford City Council say: “At present, the expectation is” that OCC Cabinet will decide the future of Bertie Park on 16th October (The big decision). But they are not sure. 10 months ago, people were told that there were “legal issues”. 5 Months ago we asked again when Bertie would go to cabinet. Cllr Upton,Continue reading “The Bertie Park Mystery”

In Praise of Bertie Park

Last week was “Love Parks Week” in Oxford. Does OCC love Bertie Park? Oxford’s green spaces have many functions: environmental, economic, health and wellbeing etc. In 2022 Oxford City Council carried out a study of its Green Infrastructure (here). This picked out Bertie Park as special. Even though small, it is “multi-functional.” Bertie is estimatedContinue reading “In Praise of Bertie Park”

OCC runs out of excuses

Once again, OCC put off making a decision about Bertie Park. Section 122 of the 1972 Local Government Act and the National Planning and the UK National Policy Planning Framework both protect recreation grounds. OCC’s current proposals for Bertie Park don’t follow the local plan. The Environment Agency say that they are unlikely to grantContinue reading “OCC runs out of excuses”

Bertie Park and the sewage problem

Our sewerage system cannot cope. Thames Water discharged sewage into the Thames 16,990 times in 2023. Many members of the Save Bertie Park campaign worry that building houses on Bertie Park could only make things worse. Two organisations could act to stop Thames Water from discharging sewage. One is the Environment Agency. This article fromContinue reading “Bertie Park and the sewage problem”

Bertie Park loses a cherry tree

This week there was concern when Oxford City Council had to cut down one of Bertie Park’s cherry trees. It is sad, but the tree had been condemned. You can see below a large hole in the side of the trunk, filled with gunge. The tree stump has a orange powdery mess in the middle.Continue reading “Bertie Park loses a cherry tree”

Bertie Park decision delayed again!

Oxford City Countil Cabinet have dropped Bertie Park from the agenda for their June 12th meeting. They don’t want to rock the boat in the run up to the general election. Government guidance (here) is that councils should “not publish any material which, in whole or in part, appears to be designed to affect publicContinue reading “Bertie Park decision delayed again!”

The big decision

Oxford City Council will meet on to decide whether to appropriate the land on Bertie Park for planning purposes. They have said that appropriation is simply moving land from “one budget to another” …. a “paper exercise.” But it has real consequences for our community. It is the difference between having a recreation ground andContinue reading “The big decision”

Does Oxford City Council have to follow the law?

Oxford City Council are bending over backwards trying NOT to follow this Government policy: Existing recreational land, should not be built on unless the loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location; or the development is for alternative sportsContinue reading “Does Oxford City Council have to follow the law?”

Watch OCC make this important decision!

On June 12th OCC will decide whether to appropriate Bertie Park Recreation Ground for building. Not exciting? If they can’t appropriate, it stops them in their tracks! “Appropriation” is a legal procedure described in s122 of the 1972 Local Government Act. Even if a local authority already owns a recreation ground, they must appropriate itContinue reading “Watch OCC make this important decision!”