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”
Tag Archives: Save Bertie Park
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”
Bertie Park and the sewage problem
Our sewerage system cannot cope. Thames Water discharged sewage into the Thames 16,990 times in 2023. Many members of the Save Bertie Park campaign worry that building houses on Bertie Park could only make things worse. Two organisations could act to stop Thames Water from discharging sewage. One is the Environment Agency. This article fromContinue reading “Bertie Park and the sewage problem”
Bertie Park loses a cherry tree
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”
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!”
Save Bertie Park Oxford 