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 theirContinue reading “Bertie Park development WILL increase flood risk for Hinksey Park”
Tag Archives: MUGA
New Look for Bertie Park!
OCC have finally cleaned the playground surface on Bertie Park. It took 2 years of complaints (and a threat to do it ourselves). Well worth the wait! So a reminder of why Bertie Park is well worth a visit:
We are still at it!
Bertie Park is still busy. OCC have nearly finished cleaning the surface, so we will have a new look soon. The photograph below shows spring on the park: Last October, Oxford City council appropriated the land on Bertie Park. This means that IF OCC get planning permission, they can build on Bertie. But they DON’TContinue reading “We are still at it!”
Bertie development could make flooding worse
If OCC build on Bertie Park Recreation Ground there’ll be no space for free play, nowhere for basketball or football and a much smaller play area. The compensation is a 250m path on land behind Wytham Street which Thames Valley Police say isn’t suitable for unaccompanied children. We already have a bridge. OCC want toContinue reading “Bertie development could make flooding worse”
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”
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?”
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”