Save Bertie Park Oxford

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 in the future. So OCC want to raise the level of the land. But they cannot do ANYTHING that will raise the flood risk elsewhere. They can’t bring in rubble. They have to use material from on-site. So, they plan to dig out the new play area:

The problem is that Bertie Park is ex-landfill. The landfill is covered by a layer of soil. So, what are they going to use to raise up the land? The soil that covers the landfill? or the landfill? We’ve asked OCC. We also asked how deep the soil has to be on the parts of the excavated recreation ground to be grassed or planted? They didn’t have any answers.

The other problem is that all this digging will disturb the river bank. The Environment Agency says they’ll need a permit. Well, that will open up another can of worms!

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 avoid exactly this sort of problem.

Mathew Barlow, Chapel in le Frith. BBC Derbyshire 6/10/2025

The MUGA on Bertie park is now 40 metres from homes. It is good for 5-a-side football and basketball. OCC want to replace it with a new MUGA; 4m shorter, and 11m from homes. Even normal behaviour is antisocial when it’s too close to homes. OCC says it will deal with potential problems by restricting hours when the MUGA can be used, and making sure there’s “a simple method to report noise complaints, damage and/or misuse.”

Will Oxford City Council be forced to dig up their new MUGA? It is more important than ever that young people have a place to let off steam! OCC are consulting now. The consultation ends on Sunday. Previous blog here with details of OCC’s plans. Click here to have your say (takes 5 mins).

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Bertie Park: they are consulting AGAIN … NOW!

OCC have started another consultation. We have until 30 November to comment. Bertie Park is part of our local history. It’s where our young people learn to be independent, where they go to let off steam. OCC want to shrink it down. The whole recreation ground will be less than twice the size of the current playground.

The MUGA is 4 metres shorter, and 11m from homes. Kids can’t let off steam 11m from homes. There’s 2 picnic tables on a strip of grass sandwiched between playground, MUGA and the fence. The new playground is 10% smaller. But it’s got a slope called a bund to stop homes from flooding, disabled access to the MUGA, and 5 full-size trees to meet biodiversity targets. The surfaced play area is a fraction of the current playground. For teenagers there’ll be a small climbing frame and basket swing, and a rock and bowl. Can you spot the toddler-trail behind the benches on the plans below?

We will lose 86% of Bertie Park. OCC want to compensate with a 250m path on the land behind Wytham Street.

So, OCC want to build a grand bridge over the Redbridge Stream to give wheelchair access to a wheelchair inaccessible path. They are taking the mickey! Click to comment: here.

Link to full mother-lode of consultation materials here

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No idea when Bertie Park will go to planning!

OX place is the council-owned developer who wants to build on Bertie Park. They want to build a 250m path on the land behind Wytham Street to compensate us for our loss. To access it they need to build a new bridge across the Redbridge Stream.

The Environment Agency first objected to OX Place’s bridge two years ago. Ox Place has now designed a new one. The new plans first have to be signed off by OCC Planning Department. Then there’ll have to be another community consultation.

All this has upset the apple cart! OCC have no idea when Bertie Park will go to planning committee.

What Oxford City Council have said…

* OCC have twice said there’ll be another consultation before Bertie Park goes to planning. Now they say there won’t, because their plans haven’t changed.

* When notices went up around Bertie Park in 2024, they said the development did not follow the local plan:

Now they say it does.

* OCC say their drawings and plans are “only indicative”:

So we know it won’t look anything like this! But they want to consult us only AFTER they have planning permission. This isn’t honest. The last time they consulted us, they talked to primary-age kids, then recommended equipment for toddlers.

* OCC say they are now working with the Environment Agency to solve problems. They say Bertie will go to planning committee in the Autumn. Well, it is already Autumn. But we’re still at it! Just treading water …

Why everyone in Oxford should care about Bertie Park

OCC are working on their new “2042” local plan. They want to lump recreation grounds in with “Green Infrastructure.” Nature is the priority. The “potential for recreation and movement should also be considered” … Green Infrastructure does not have to be “overly designed or dominated by fixed equipment”… It could have “wild areas and facilities that encourage engagement with nature and free-play.”

We all know that government guidance says this:

National Policy Planning Framework section 104

The plan says constructors who want to build on Green Infrastructure should consider “how any loss can be mitigated, especially if this is located in an area which already suffers from a deficit.” OCC say that Bertie Park is needed. But they want to build 31 homes. They admit there will be nowhere for free play, but insist that any loss will be “fully compensated for” in less than 20% of the current recreation ground. If they can do this to Bertie Park, they can do this to any recreation ground in Oxford.

The government’s National Planning Policy Framework protects bats. Why don’t we protect children too? (MP Natalie Elphicke). It is right to build a city that is resilient to climate change so that our children have a future, but this should not be done at the expense of their childhood. Read our response to OCC’s consultation on its 2042 proposals here.

Bertie Park Update

The only time we find out anything new is when we talk to council. So that’s what we did! (Full version on OCC’s youtube channel)

Why we couldn’t challenge
appropriation

Why the bridge makes no sense!
(Cllr Hollingsworth continues to ignore proceedings)

3 Questions

Not on the plan!

What OCC Councillor Chapman said (full version here):

OX Place will address ALL problems raised by the Environment Agency.
THEN there will be another formal planning consultation.
The planning application will be “discussed” in the autumn.
There will be no consultation on play equipment until after an award of planning permission.

A reminder: the only time OCC asked about play equipment, they questioned school-age children, but specified stuff for toddlers.

Should OCC build on Bertie Park?

Anna Railton says that Bertie Park will to go planning committee under the existing local plan. But OCC are consulting on the new ‘2042’ local plan NOW. You and any other member of your family can comment before August 8th. A short consultation only lists the sites, the long one click here lets you comment on them. Sandy Lane is another Oxford recreation ground under threat. Section 10 looks like this:

It’s OK if you don’t want to do any other sections!

The 2042 local plan aims “to provide adequate … leisure and recreation opportunities and make these readily accessible for all.” But here is the new site assessment form for Bertie Park. It doesn’t include the bank of Redbridge Stream, so the site is now smaller. No nature trail. No new bridge.

Bertie Park consists of a recreation ground, playground and MUGA. Only the playground and MUGA are to be replaced. They don’t say where, or how. Bertie Park is still a recreation ground. Government policy says that you cannot build on a recreation ground unless it is replaced by equivalent or better.

Below is a list of consultations for the 2042 plan:

Tuesday 17 July, 11am to 12.30pm	Online – please fill in the online form for the 17 July session to register your interest.
Sunday 20 July, 9.15am to midday	South Oxford Farmers Market
Wednesday 23 July, 10.45am to 2.45pm	Town Hall, Long Room
Tuesday 29 July, 5pm to 6.30pm	Online – please fill in the online form for the 29 July session to register your interest.

Bertie Park development WILL increase flood risk for Hinksey Park

Oxford City council want to shrink Bertie Park recreation ground to 20% of its current size.

To compensate, they want to make a 250m footpath on an area not safe for unaccompanied children. And build a new bridge to access it.

Oxford City Council have now had 5 letters from the Environment Agency, saying their plans for a new bridge will “increase the risk of flooding both onsite and elsewhere.” But the council is not listening. Latest EA letter here.

The Environment Agency say that their latest letter prevents OCC “from issuing planning permission without first referring the application to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government… This process must be followed unless we are able to withdraw our objection to you in writing. A failure to follow this statutory process could render any decision unlawful, and the resultant permission vulnerable to legal challenge.”

Hmm. Do Oxford City Council have a problem?

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Music for Bertie 26 April 2025

At our first fundraiser, music was provided by Sue Smith & Phil Freizinger, Double J Bangra and Trip Hazard, with busking by Tali. Tesco donated prizes for a raffle. Other games included guess the number of balloons in the car, knock down tins and find the real egg. Light refreshments included cakes made by Katy and Michael, and contributions from Baweja Superstore and the Vaults and Garden Cafe. We raised nearly £260. If you are able to contribute, our gofundme is here.

A small taster of the music