City Council objects to town green

(From Oxford Times)

OXFORD City Council has lodged an objection to a residents’ group campaign to get a city centre meadow registered as a Town Green.

Sendra, the St Ebbe’s New Development Residents’ Association, wants Oxpens Meadow next to the Ice Rink to be recognised as a public space to protect it from development.

About 50 per cent of the five-and-a-half-acre meadow, which campaigners say has been used by the community for almost a century, was earmarked in city council plans for part of the so-called West End redevelopment. The land has been identified as a site for a 150-bedroom hotel, housing, or civic offices.

In its application last November, Sendra had to provide evidence and witness statements proving the area had been used by the community for more than 25 years.

A public consultation was then launched when objections to the application could be lodged with Oxfordshire County Council, the body which grants Town Green status.

County Hall confirmed only one objection to the application had been received – from the city council.

Colin Bridger, of Sendra, said the council had objected over the legal terminology used in the group’s application.

He added: “We are now seeking legal advice and are preparing a strategy to fight this objection. We will continue to fight on.”

A city council spokesman confirmed it had lodged an objection, but was unable to give details of the grounds on which its argument was made