Oxford City Council wants to build on Bertie Park. They say there is nowhere else to build social housing. Oxford has 87 recreation grounds and play areas. OCC only want to build on two of them. They want to build 12 homes on the Valentia Road Recreation ground. Bertie Park Recreation ground is slightly smaller. They want to build 31 homes on Bertie Park.
The Government says you should not build on a recreation ground unless you replace it with something which is equivalent or better.
The local plan says planning permission will only be granted if the existing recreation ground, including the Multi Use Games Area, is moved onto land behind Wytham Street. But it is not possible to do this because the land is not over-looked, and Thames Valley Police say it is not suitable for unaccompanied children.
What will the new recreation area be like?
Steps down into the play garden
We asked people if they thought that the new recreation area would be equivalent to or better in terms of quantity or quality? Please click below to find out what they said:
Save Bertie Park Oxford 