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) What OCC Councillor Chapman said (full version here): A reminder: the only time OCC asked about play equipment, they questioned school-age children, but specified stuff for toddlers.
Tag Archives: Appropriation
Working class communities don’t need recreation grounds …
OCC have appropriated Bertie Park. The law says a “council may appropriate … land which … is no longer required for the purpose for which it is held immediately before the appropriation.” But case law says the council can take “a broad view of local needs.” OCC say that the need for social housing inContinue reading “Working class communities don’t need recreation grounds …”
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”
Bertie Park’s MUGA as a postage stamp
Kaddy has asked for a judicial review of the decision to appropriate Bertie Park. Part of the challenge is that OCC have appropriated 80% of the park. They say that a new MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) on the 20% which is left will meet the current needs for somewhere to play football and basketContinue reading “Bertie Park’s MUGA as a postage stamp”
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”
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”
Save Bertie Park Oxford 