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”
Tag Archives: Appropriation
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!”
Bertie Park Campaign leaves OCC speech-less
In August ’23 the Environment Agency objected to OCC’s plans for Bertie Park. They said they couldn’t use the bank of Hinksey Stream: Last October, we asked council how much smaller the new recreation area would be. They were still working out what to do, but said “any … amended plans will be re-consulted onContinue reading “Bertie Park Campaign leaves OCC speech-less”
Bertie Park campaign in waiting
Oxford City Council cabinet first met on 15th November 2023 to decide whether to appropriate Bertie Park for building. It was pulled from the agenda 3 hours before the meeting and rescheduled for February 7th. It is now on the agenda for March 13th …. We were told Bertie Park might go to planning inContinue reading “Bertie Park campaign in waiting”
Bertie Park Campaign plans for 2024
We have sent a complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman: that OCC are deliberately fudging how they will replace the recreation ground, that they have mis-represented the results of consultations, that they are acting illegally etc. Our complaint seems to get longer by the day. We should get the results in 2024. In early 2024Continue reading “Bertie Park Campaign plans for 2024”
The speech that stopped OCC in their tracks?
A couple of weeks ago October Oxford City Council was saying that appropriation of Bertie Park was “a paper exercise”. On 7th November they released a report recommending that OCC cabinet should go ahead and appropriate the land on Bertie Park for housing. 13th November we sent our speech to the Council 14th November OCCContinue reading “The speech that stopped OCC in their tracks?”
Cabinet Discussion Cancelled
3.00 this afternoon (Wednesday 15th November), at the very last minute, Oxford City Council have taken the approptiation of Bertie Park off the agenda for tonight’s cabinet meeting. There is no explanation. The council’s report recommended the appropriation of the park. The speech that we submitted challenged their arguments. It is clear that something hadContinue reading “Cabinet Discussion Cancelled”
Witness this important decision!
On 15th November, Oxford City Council will decide whether to appropriate Bertie Park Recreation Ground for building. OCC have to appropriate Bertie Park before they can build on it. Appropriation is a legal procedure described in section 122 of the 1972 Local Government Act. This says councils can only appropriate land which is no longerContinue reading “Witness this important decision!”
Save Bertie Park Oxford 