Category Archives: Uncategorized

Why building houses on Bertie Park won’t solve the housing crisis

Cllr Hollingsworth has said that he doesn’t understand how not building homes will solve the housing crisis in Oxford. Imagine that the housing crisis is like a hole in the ground. If Oxford City Housing Ltd builds homes, this should fill the hole. The housing list should become smaller. But this doesn’t happen. The housingContinue reading “Why building houses on Bertie Park won’t solve the housing crisis”

What are the questions that Oxford City Council does not want to answer?

We were assured that the Bertie Park consultation was due any day. Now there is yet another delay. Could this be anything to do with the upcoming elections? Wanting to understand, we sent some questions to the council. They replied we are “not able to go into the detail you are requesting at the moment”.Continue reading “What are the questions that Oxford City Council does not want to answer?”

Oxford City Council have no clear vision

Oxford City council’s new economic strategy is incoherent by design. It is driven by the Venn diagram below: Choosing a Venn diagram allows the council to use a pick and mix approach where OCC e.g. can say that inclusion is a priority, but run projects that make Oxford more unequal. For more details of thisContinue reading “Oxford City Council have no clear vision”

Bertie Park: Looking forward

The Bertie Park consultation has been delayed many times. Ever since last May, it has been postponed one month at a time. Oxford City Council continues to struggle with the practicalities of the project, and so kicks the can down the road. We have been told that an announcement is imminent, so we are treadingContinue reading “Bertie Park: Looking forward”

What do we want for Christmas?

Last Monday, we went to a council meeting to explain why the current proposals for developing Bertie Park are a deviation from the local plan, and that there have been no “extensive consultations”. The council didn’t try to engage with our arguments, but simply said that they “stood by their words absolutely”. So, on Saturday,Continue reading “What do we want for Christmas?”

Join us on Saturday 4th, 12 till 1

Oxford City Council continues to kick the can down the road. The consultation is now due for January, but we need to show that we still care. Meet at St Luke’s (Canning Crescent) on Monday 29th 4.00 – 5.00 to prepare posters. On the 4th December, we will be at Carfax 12.00 – 1.00. Passers-byContinue reading “Join us on Saturday 4th, 12 till 1”

The Facts about Bertie Park No2

Are the City Council’s proposals in the local plan? Bertie Park first appeared on Oxford City Council’s local plans because somebody thought it would be possible to move the recreation ground. In 2019 the council proposed that Bertie Park should become “a smaller but more modern play area”. The latest proposal is to squeeze theContinue reading “The Facts about Bertie Park No2”

The Facts about Bertie Park No1

As the consultation approaches, we think that it is important for people to know the facts. Alex Hollingsworth is Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery. He says: This IS true but … ALL of the local plans say:  Plot B is the wasteland behind Wytham St, previously called “the Back Fields” or “Cold HarbourContinue reading “The Facts about Bertie Park No1”

Are we telling the truth?

It is great to see recent interest in the Save Bertie Park campaign from the Oxford Mail and That’s.tv. https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19626906.fight-save-bertie-park-city-councils-housing-development-continues/ Both pieces say why the park is important to us. The fact that the current proposals are not in the plan, and that we were not consulted, is edited out. Both pieces end with theContinue reading “Are we telling the truth?”