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”

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 KatyContinue reading “Music for Bertie 26 April 2025”

Music for Bertie

Oxford city council do not yet have planning permission to build on Bertie Park. They say Bertie could go to planning committee this Autumn at the earliest. Anna Railton says that the decision could go either way. If they finally give planning permission, we will appeal. We launch our fundraising for legal costs on theContinue reading “Music for Bertie”

Oxford City Council don’t care

Oxford City Council wants to “grow” Oxford. It will create way more jobs than homes. Surrounding authorities have to build homes for the people who work in Oxford. And so OCC has to build on every single site on the local plan. Bertie Park is on the local plan. OCC say that social housing isContinue reading “Oxford City Council don’t care”

What Angela Rayner thinks about recreation grounds like Bertie

When Labour was elected, there was much talk about house building. We asked Anneliese Dodds if the government wanted to build on recreation grounds. This week we had a reply from Angela Rayner (read here). She said her Ministry (MHCLG) currently has no plans to undertake a review of recreation grounds for housing, adding thatContinue reading “What Angela Rayner thinks about recreation grounds like Bertie”

Bertie Park at Cabinet, and why we’re fighting on …

It’s taken a while to upload this as the council didn’t record the first part. We had to re-record. This is Michael giving the campaign speech: Cllr Linda Smith outlined the council’s position. She recommended that the cabinet note our objections, but appropriate the park: Councillor Hollingsworth said it would be unreasonable not to appropriateContinue reading “Bertie Park at Cabinet, and why we’re fighting on …”

What will OCC say on the 16th?

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 UseContinue reading “What will OCC say on the 16th?”

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”