Battle on to save Bertie Park from becoming new homes

Campaigners say that New Hinksey Playground on Bertie Place – known locally as Bertie Park – is a ‘lifeline’ for families who live in nearby flats – especially during the ongoing pandemic.

Urging Oxford City Council to rethink the plans to get rid of the park and replace it with something smaller, group leader Kaddy Beck said: “I’m an ex-teacher who lives on the road behind the park.

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“On a Saturday night it’s like being at Wembley with the children playing. For a lot of people, this is a second home.

“It doesn’t matter what age you are, what race you are – you can go to the park. It just melts your heart, the more you talk to people the more you realise this is important.”

Save Bertie Park! Plans for park to be moved to a new wasteland and residentÕs are not happy. 09/03/2021 Picture by Ed Nix

In a draft plan in November 2019, the council set out plans to build new social housing and a children’s play area at the land off Abingdon Road.

At the time the council said it was planning on building 29 to 33 new homes on the recreation ground because there were 3,000 families on the list waiting for a council house.

This area was earmarked by the council as a development site in Oxford’s Local Plan – a document that lists areas where new homes will be built.

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Under that plan, which was approved in May 2020, a smaller play area would replace the much-loved one.

To ease the blow, another play area on nearby Fox Crescent would be refurbished with new equipment like swings and a climbing frame.

The council also said it was looking into building on the area known as ‘Cold Harbour’ behind Wytham Street, adjacent to the Bertie Place Recreation Ground, to make that space nicer and more accessible.

Save Bertie Park! Plans for park to be moved to a new wasteland and residentÕs are not happy. 09/03/2021 Picture by Ed Nix

As it is, the scrubland is overgrown and can only be walked to via a narrow footbridge – not good for people in wheelchairs or with push chairs.

But those fighting to reverse the decision to get rid of Bertie Park say that this wasteland has a history of anti-social behaviour, like drug use, making it ‘unsafe’ for children to play in.

They also say alternative parks are no good because families living in Gordon Woodward Way, Leander Way or other side roads off Abingdon Road, will have to travel further to use the playground.

Drawings on the railings at Bertie Park

Oxford City Council said it needs to build housing after figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that half of the homes in Oxford (49.3 per cent) are privately rented.

The median cost of a private rented three-bedroom house, similar to those planned for the site, is £1,500 a month.

Buyers are looking at spending an average price of £395,000 in Oxford – 12.55 times higher than the median gross earnings of £31,472 in the city.

Meanwhile there are 2,355 people waiting for a house on the council waiting list.

Some 360 people signed another petition last year called ‘please support our beautiful park at Bertie Place to stop the council from building’.

Save Bertie Park! Plans for park to be moved to a new wasteland and residentÕs are not happy. 09/03/2021 Picture by Ed Nix

At the time Oxford City Council responded on Change.Org by saying the reason for the plans was because ‘Oxford is regularly listed as being the least affordable place to live in the country’ and it desperately needed new homes.

Those supporting the latest petition include the vicar of St Luke’s Church in Canning Crescent.

Jane Lees, who has also lived in the area for many years, said: “St Luke’s was involved in a council project in the early 2000s called ‘It’s Your Rec’, which saw the playground and the MUGA added to Bertie Park.

“I am shocked therefore that the council now wishes to build on the site they invested in so positively.

Drawings on the railings at Bertie Park

“There is little enough for young people in this area, without taking this away too.”

One child's drawing hung on the railings at the park shows a stick parent talking to a child saying: “Why, why, why do they have to change the design...completely?

“Where are my children going to play?”

A speech bubble from the child says: “Bu...bu...but mummy...I really want to play.”

To sign the petition search ‘Save Bertie!’ on Change.org

Save Bertie Park! Plans for park to be moved to a new wasteland and residentÕs are not happy. 09/03/2021 Picture by Ed Nix

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