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U-turn floors skatepark bid
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| Jack Richens |
Skateboard enthusiasts claim they are "hanging on by the skin of their teeth" after plans for a new skatepark were dashed.
It looked as if a site for jumps and ramps in Cowley Marsh Park had been approved in May, after a 10-year fight.
But, just as planning and fundraising for the facility began, skateboarders from the Oxford Wheels Project hit a major stumbling block.
Oxford City Council - the same authority which granted planning permission for the skatepark - has contacted Wheels' executive officer Jack Richens with bad news.
The council said it will not be supporting any lease application for the land, which is owned by the authority.
Mr Richens said: "We have been doing this for so long now we are almost accustomed to being let down so we are upset, but not at all surprised."
For the scheme to go ahead, permission is required from both the planning authority and the landowner - both of which, in this case, are the council.
But the decision on the lease will be taken by another committee, with separate councillors.
A meeting has been arranged next week between Mr Richens and council board member for young people Antonia Bance to discuss alternative sites.
But Mr Richens said: "We have spent years looking for somewhere to build this skatepark.
"We have been trying, and trying and trying and have got to the stage where we are hanging on by the skin of our teeth."
Despite being landowner, the council would not have to pay for the skatepark development.
A temporary skatepark in Meadow Lane, East Oxford, is coming to the end of its life after 10 years, with just one usable wooden ramp left.
Ms Bance said: "The decision has been taken because of the concerns of local residents and local ward councillors about noise in particular."
She would not comment on why the council had already granted planning permission and said she had not been a member of the committee which made the decision.
Saj Malik, who represents Cowley Marsh on the council, declined to comment and fellow ward councillor Mohammed Abbasi was yesterday unavailable for comment.
6:00am Wednesday 20th August 2008
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Posted by: Jock, Headington on 8:45am Wed 20 Aug 08
What disgraceful duplicitousness on the part of councillors. Scared to make a planning decision before local elections they bottled it till May. Noise is a valid planning concern - they could have refused it then, when local councillors were making the decision.
This is presumably why ZaNuLabour want to get rid of area committees - so they can't make decisions the Supreme Soviet doesn't like. If a business or developer were treaqted this way they would, quite rightly, probably hammer the council legally - butno, a kids' activity charity is okay to treat like in such an outrageous cavalier fashion.
Disgraceful.
What disgraceful duplicitousness on the part of councillors. Scared to make a planning decision before local elections they bottled it till May. Noise is a valid planning concern - they could have refused it then, when local councillors were making the decision.
This is presumably why ZaNuLabour want to get rid of area committees - so they can't make decisions the Supreme Soviet doesn't like. If a business or developer were treaqted this way they would, quite rightly, probably hammer the council legally - butno, a kids' activity charity is okay to treat like in such an outrageous cavalier fashion.
Disgraceful.
Posted by: Tarbatt on 9:25am Wed 20 Aug 08
ZaNuLabour? So Bob Price is Mugabe then?
ZaNuLabour? So Bob Price is Mugabe then?
Posted by: annoyed, Oxford on 9:29am Wed 20 Aug 08
I agree with Jock, it's disgusting to treat the people behind the idea for this skateboard park with such contempt.
The council must surely see the benefits for such a place for youngsters.
Obviously this park would keep them from skateboarding on nearby dangerous and busy roads.
I applaud the initiative of the people behind this idea, and deplore the non-initiative of the councillors behind the decision to not go ahead with it.
I agree with Jock, it's disgusting to treat the people behind the idea for this skateboard park with such contempt.
The council must surely see the benefits for such a place for youngsters.
Obviously this park would keep them from skateboarding on nearby dangerous and busy roads.
I applaud the initiative of the people behind this idea, and deplore the non-initiative of the councillors behind the decision to not go ahead with it.
Posted by: Homer Simpson, Springfield on 9:30am Wed 20 Aug 08
Why are the so called local councillors not avaliable for comment. That is their job. Still going by their names they are not intrested in what white English kids want.
Why are the so called local councillors not avaliable for comment. That is their job. Still going by their names they are not intrested in what white English kids want.
Posted by: Jock, Headington on 9:46am Wed 20 Aug 08
Actually Homer, like your own episode as Springfield Cleansing Board Supervisor, it seems their job is to say whatever it takes to get elected and then do the opposite. Nonetheless, they made such a big noise about it before the elections their silence now is deafening. You can almost hear the brown envelopes being passed around from up here!!
It's not like this was an uncontentious planning application nodded through without comment. It was the most controversial planning application in the area committee area in the first half of the year.
I can understand those neighbours who feel it would be noisy (though how much more noisy than a council waste dump facility is anyone's guess), but they've had their day in court so to speak, in the planning process. It is inconceivable, even if legal, that such a planning application went in without the city's estates people agreeing. I hope, if they paid anything in planning fees, this will be reimbursed, at the very least.
For a facility unique to Oxford (notwithstanding the campaign of nimbyism in Aristotle Lane a few years ago) this was an goos a site as they were likely to get with regular buses and off road parking and so on. Of course it could be a rent-seeking ruse to get the facility built somewhere some other councillor has promised something for the kids and can't now deliver!
Actually Homer, like your own episode as Springfield Cleansing Board Supervisor, it seems their job is to say whatever it takes to get elected and then do the opposite. Nonetheless, they made such a big noise about it before the elections their silence now is deafening. You can almost hear the brown envelopes being passed around from up here!!
It's not like this was an uncontentious planning application nodded through without comment. It was the most controversial planning application in the area committee area in the first half of the year.
I can understand those neighbours who feel it would be noisy (though how much more noisy than a council waste dump facility is anyone's guess), but they've had their day in court so to speak, in the planning process. It is inconceivable, even if legal, that such a planning application went in without the city's estates people agreeing. I hope, if they paid anything in planning fees, this will be reimbursed, at the very least.
For a facility unique to Oxford (notwithstanding the campaign of nimbyism in Aristotle Lane a few years ago) this was an goos a site as they were likely to get with regular buses and off road parking and so on. Of course it could be a rent-seeking ruse to get the facility built somewhere some other councillor has promised something for the kids and can't now deliver!
Posted by: Annoyed, Oxford on 10:34am Wed 20 Aug 08
[bold]Ms Bance said: "The decision has been taken because of the concerns of local residents and local ward councillors about noise in particular."[/bold]
Excuse me local residents, youngsters do make noise. If you choose to live in a city, higher noise levels must have been part of the equation.
You are all just petty minded killjoys!
Councillors don't use the 'noise argument' as an excuse for not going ahesd as originally planned. Tell us all, the real reason behind your decision.
Ms Bance said: "The decision has been taken because of the concerns of local residents and local ward councillors about noise in particular."
Excuse me local residents, youngsters do make noise. If you choose to live in a city, higher noise levels must have been part of the equation.
You are all just petty minded killjoys!
Councillors don't use the 'noise argument' as an excuse for not going ahesd as originally planned. Tell us all, the real reason behind your decision.
Posted by: Sharon, Oxford on 10:42am Wed 20 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Oxford City Council - the same authority which granted planning permission for the skatepark[/bold] - has contacted Wheels' executive officer Jack Richens with bad news.
[bold]The council said it will not be supporting any lease application for the land, which is owned by the authority.[/bold]
For the scheme to go ahead, permission is required from both the planning authority and the landowner - both of which, in this case, are the council.
But the decision on the lease will be taken by another committee, with separate councillors.[/quote]
Let me see if I get this - the Council own some land it does not want to lease out but go ahead and grant planning permission on the land. Although the decision is made, their colleagues will have a meeting to confirm the decision.
If this is how taxpayers money is spent, no wonder the country has gone to the dogs - the dogs are running it and expecting us decent citizens to run around scooping their poop.
This is an absolute disgrace - Oxford Wheels Project, you're getting your chain yanked good and proper.
Oxford City Council - the same authority which granted planning permission for the skatepark - has contacted Wheels' executive officer Jack Richens with bad news.
The council said it will not be supporting any lease application for the land, which is owned by the authority.
For the scheme to go ahead, permission is required from both the planning authority and the landowner - both of which, in this case, are the council.
But the decision on the lease will be taken by another committee, with separate councillors.
Let me see if I get this - the Council own some land it does not want to lease out but go ahead and grant planning permission on the land. Although the decision is made, their colleagues will have a meeting to confirm the decision.
If this is how taxpayers money is spent, no wonder the country has gone to the dogs - the dogs are running it and expecting us decent citizens to run around scooping their poop.
This is an absolute disgrace - Oxford Wheels Project, you're getting your chain yanked good and proper.
Posted by: Tarbatt on 10:48am Wed 20 Aug 08
[italic]But the decision on the lease will be taken by another committee, with separate councillors.
[/italic]
So exactly which committee is this? And has the decision be taken yet? If so, when?
But the decision on the lease will be taken by another committee, with separate councillors.
So exactly which committee is this? And has the decision be taken yet? If so, when?
Posted by: Tony Brett, Oxford on 11:04am Wed 20 Aug 08
This is entirely predictable. And really sickening.
Noise concerns are a planning issue that have been thoroughly and comprehensively addressed by the planning process. The decision was made by a democratically elected group of councillors who's job it is to represent the people of the City.
For NuLabour to ignore all that and think that they know better is frankly shameful and sadly typical.
As a resident of Cowley Marsh and neighbour of Cowley Marsh Park for over four years who spoke to over 1000 people earlier this year about the skate park, I know that the objectors are a TINY minority.
SHAME on the councillors that are trying to block this. SHAME.
This is entirely predictable. And really sickening.
Noise concerns are a planning issue that have been thoroughly and comprehensively addressed by the planning process. The decision was made by a democratically elected group of councillors who's job it is to represent the people of the City.
For NuLabour to ignore all that and think that they know better is frankly shameful and sadly typical.
As a resident of Cowley Marsh and neighbour of Cowley Marsh Park for over four years who spoke to over 1000 people earlier this year about the skate park, I know that the objectors are a TINY minority.
SHAME on the councillors that are trying to block this. SHAME.
Posted by: Sharon, Oxford on 11:43am Wed 20 Aug 08
What would it have cost to investigate? Presumably the Oxford Mail has to abide by certain Data Protection rules, but couldn't the Police request verification that the e-mail address was in fact linked to Mr Malik?
If it takes a huge investigation and shed loads of dosh to do this little bit of digging no wonder the fat cat solicitors etc. are financiall obese.
I don't trust anyone in a position of State authority as anyone in a position of power needs their cronies to cover for them, as they've probably covered for many on the way up and can take many down if their support system fails. Maybe the decision to take no action in Mr Malik's case is an example of this.
How long before these comments get pulled?
What would it have cost to investigate? Presumably the Oxford Mail has to abide by certain Data Protection rules, but couldn't the Police request verification that the e-mail address was in fact linked to Mr Malik?
If it takes a huge investigation and shed loads of dosh to do this little bit of digging no wonder the fat cat solicitors etc. are financiall obese.
I don't trust anyone in a position of State authority as anyone in a position of power needs their cronies to cover for them, as they've probably covered for many on the way up and can take many down if their support system fails. Maybe the decision to take no action in Mr Malik's case is an example of this.
How long before these comments get pulled?
Posted by: Jock, Headington on 12:12pm Wed 20 Aug 08
Oh - I stand corrected by myself - I forgot the planning decision was taken by the Supreme Soviet (with four of the six members of the area committee who had already voed to refuse it, at least two of whom must presumably have changed their minds when it got to the SDCC).
Still a complete mess though. The lotacracy at work!
Oh - I stand corrected by myself - I forgot the planning decision was taken by the Supreme Soviet (with four of the six members of the area committee who had already voed to refuse it, at least two of whom must presumably have changed their minds when it got to the SDCC).
Still a complete mess though. The lotacracy at work!
Posted by: Hunt, oxford on 12:15pm Wed 20 Aug 08
it probably just one person who is doing all this writing in these so called blogs, which oxford mail provides with great zeal and approval...... as long has its against black and ethnic minorities.
Next time just keep an eye open for this kind of news..... then you shell see the maggots come out .
oxford mail should be more responsible
free speech yes, but not free to abuse
it probably just one person who is doing all this writing in these so called blogs, which oxford mail provides with great zeal and approval...... as long has its against black and ethnic minorities.
Next time just keep an eye open for this kind of news..... then you shell see the maggots come out .
oxford mail should be more responsible
free speech yes, but not free to abuse
Posted by: Frankie, Oxford on 12:45pm Wed 20 Aug 08
So why can't they just rebuild at Meadow Lane in East Oxford if that's been so successful there
So why can't they just rebuild at Meadow Lane in East Oxford if that's been so successful there
Posted by: Mark, Temple Cowley on 12:53pm Wed 20 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Tony Brett[/bold] wrote:
This is entirely predictable. And really sickening. Noise concerns are a planning issue that have been thoroughly and comprehensively addressed by the planning process. The decision was made by a democratically elected group of councillors who\'s job it is to represent the people of the City. For NuLabour to ignore all that and think that they know better is frankly shameful and sadly typical. As a resident of Cowley Marsh and neighbour of Cowley Marsh Park for over four years who spoke to over 1000 people earlier this year about the skate park, I know that the objectors are a TINY minority. SHAME on the councillors that are trying to block this. SHAME.[/quote] Mr Brett, you didn't talk to us and we are one of the people who lives next to Cowley Marsh Park! And as for a tiny majority being against it I wouldn't call 300+ a tiny minority. Also, the petition organised by the OWP was signed mostly by people who don't live anywhere near Cowley Marsh Park so wasn't representative of the local residents views.
The decision to give planning permission was made by the strategic planning committee most of whom don't represent us or live anywhere near the Park. The East Area Committee refused it from the start.
Imagine the uproar if they tried to build it in Florence Park but no because it's Cowley Marsh the local opponents are villified for denying youngsters somewhere to play on their skateboards. THERE ARE BETTER PLACES TO BUILD THIS SKATEPARK.
Tony Brett wrote:
This is entirely predictable. And really sickening. Noise concerns are a planning issue that have been thoroughly and comprehensively addressed by the planning process. The decision was made by a democratically elected group of councillors who\'s job it is to represent the people of the City. For NuLabour to ignore all that and think that they know better is frankly shameful and sadly typical. As a resident of Cowley Marsh and neighbour of Cowley Marsh Park for over four years who spoke to over 1000 people earlier this year about the skate park, I know that the objectors are a TINY minority. SHAME on the councillors that are trying to block this. SHAME.
Mr Brett, you didn't talk to us and we are one of the people who lives next to Cowley Marsh Park! And as for a tiny majority being against it I wouldn't call 300+ a tiny minority. Also, the petition organised by the OWP was signed mostly by people who don't live anywhere near Cowley Marsh Park so wasn't representative of the local residents views.
The decision to give planning permission was made by the strategic planning committee most of whom don't represent us or live anywhere near the Park. The East Area Committee refused it from the start.
Imagine the uproar if they tried to build it in Florence Park but no because it's Cowley Marsh the local opponents are villified for denying youngsters somewhere to play on their skateboards. THERE ARE BETTER PLACES TO BUILD THIS SKATEPARK.
Posted by: Mark, Temple Cowley on 1:00pm Wed 20 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Mark[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Tony Brett[/bold] wrote: This is entirely predictable. And really sickening. Noise concerns are a planning issue that have been thoroughly and comprehensively addressed by the planning process. The decision was made by a democratically elected group of councillors who\\\'s job it is to represent the people of the City. For NuLabour to ignore all that and think that they know better is frankly shameful and sadly typical. As a resident of Cowley Marsh and neighbour of Cowley Marsh Park for over four years who spoke to over 1000 people earlier this year about the skate park, I know that the objectors are a TINY minority. SHAME on the councillors that are trying to block this. SHAME.[/quote] Mr Brett, you didn\'t talk to us and we are one of the people who lives next to Cowley Marsh Park! And as for a tiny majority being against it I wouldn\'t call 300+ a tiny minority. Also, the petition organised by the OWP was signed mostly by people who don\'t live anywhere near Cowley Marsh Park so wasn\'t representative of the local residents views. The decision to give planning permission was made by the strategic planning committee most of whom don\'t represent us or live anywhere near the Park. The East Area Committee refused it from the start. Imagine the uproar if they tried to build it in Florence Park but no because it\'s Cowley Marsh the local opponents are villified for denying youngsters somewhere to play on their skateboards. THERE ARE BETTER PLACES TO BUILD THIS SKATEPARK. [/quote] 'And as for a tiny majority being against it I wouldn't call 300+ a tiny minority.'
Freudian slip. Majority should read minority.
Mark wrote:
Tony Brett wrote: This is entirely predictable. And really sickening. Noise concerns are a planning issue that have been thoroughly and comprehensively addressed by the planning process. The decision was made by a democratically elected group of councillors who's job it is to represent the people of the City. For NuLabour to ignore all that and think that they know better is frankly shameful and sadly typical. As a resident of Cowley Marsh and neighbour of Cowley Marsh Park for over four years who spoke to over 1000 people earlier this year about the skate park, I know that the objectors are a TINY minority. SHAME on the councillors that are trying to block this. SHAME.
Mr Brett, you didn\'t talk to us and we are one of the people who lives next to Cowley Marsh Park! And as for a tiny majority being against it I wouldn\'t call 300+ a tiny minority. Also, the petition organised by the OWP was signed mostly by people who don\'t live anywhere near Cowley Marsh Park so wasn\'t representative of the local residents views. The decision to give planning permission was made by the strategic planning committee most of whom don\'t represent us or live anywhere near the Park. The East Area Committee refused it from the start. Imagine the uproar if they tried to build it in Florence Park but no because it\'s Cowley Marsh the local opponents are villified for denying youngsters somewhere to play on their skateboards. THERE ARE BETTER PLACES TO BUILD THIS SKATEPARK.
'And as for a tiny majority being against it I wouldn't call 300+ a tiny minority.'
Freudian slip. Majority should read minority.
Posted by: tutu much on 1:28pm Wed 20 Aug 08
Any you can give people power to make decision but they'll still end up howling at the moon.
Any you can give people power to make decision but they'll still end up howling at the moon.
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