VISIONS No 128, July 2014 Contents 1-2 Chairman’s commentary 3 Walks website /OxClean 4-5 Planning / Minchery Farm 6 Transport 7 Buses and Westgate / Canal 8 Low Carbon Hub / MOO 9 Holywell Cemetry 10–11 Programme 12 OCS people / Contacts Green Belt, green field or simply green space? What does each contribute to the quality of our lives? Reviewing the Green Belt: disaster or distraction? By Peter Thompson, Chairman The debate about the Green Belt is they have not restricted the sprawl of distracting us from the real issues. many towns and villages; Green Belts were introduced for five Many of us involved in planning issues they have not protected all country- specific purposes: believe that we are in something of a side from encroachment; 75 per cent to check the unrestricted sprawl of Titanic situation in Oxfordshire. The of Oxfordshire is not Green Belt, and large built-up areas course we have been following for the sprawl has encroached into green past few decades is heading for a num- to prevent neighbouring towns merg- landscape in many locations; ber of environmental icebergs. These ing into one another many towns and villages in Oxford- include energy availability and cost, to help safeguard the countryside shire are very historic, yet their setting climate change, air pollution, health from encroachment has been compromised by not having issues, traffic congestion, social ine- to preserve the setting and special Green Belt status; quality and despoliation of the land- character of historic towns; and the sanctity of the Green Belt has put scape we hold so dear. to support urban regeneration by pressure on the development of every encouraging the re-use of derelict available open space in towns. The To confine the debate to the arrange- and other urban land. Green Belt policy puts no value on ment of the deck chairs when what is green spaces within the city. desperately needed is a change of Green Belts have, by and large, been course, seems naive and complacent. effective in achieving these objectives, Furthermore, there are many allowable but there are legitimate criticisms: exceptions to the restrictions on stances of our environment, economic growth for environmental our economy or our society protection? It means detailed design are the same now as they and it means consistency. were in 1955 when the Oxford Green Belt was This is what our Oxford Futures designated? In truth, the report is all about. This report, com- circumstances of our lives piled by Nicholas Falk and launched at are radically different. the end of March by the Lord Lieuten- ant of the County, Tim Stevenson, To assert categorically that summarises the conclusions of four no re-assessment should high-level debates we sponsored last ever be made of the effects year. In essence the report calls for the of 60-year-old decisions and principles of ‘smart growth’ to be their appropriateness for applied and for difficult decisions to be current and future circum- made in a coordinated way. A sum- Open spaces in the city have no value in Green Belt stances, seems, at best, mary of the report is enclosed with this policies. Do we wish to build in every large garden in highly complacent. Green newsletter. You can read the full ver- Oxford, as here, in order to preserve the Green Belt? Belts have been successful, sion online on our Oxford Futures but not entirely so and how website or order a paper copy*. development in Green Belt: roads, rail- they will measure up for the challenges ways, stations, car parks, pipelines and of the future needs consideration. Ironically, in Britain we have some of pylons included. In fact, an 'exceptional the best-regarded urban planners and circumstances' concession already Let me be clear – no one in the Society architects in the world, while here in allows more or less anything to be built concerned with planning issues has Oxford our two universities teach and in Green Belt except housing! ever advocated building on the Green research urban design for the commu- Belt. But we believe that planners need nities of the future. Can we not have Consequently, some authorities are much more than reliance on the rigid the debate and leadership we deserve already proposing industrial develop- retention of potentially-obsolete rules. to deliver a better future for our own ment in Green Belt, at, for example, city, our county towns and our villages? Oxford Airport and Begbroke. Even with We’d be delighted to hear your housing, some councils are qualifying Planning a smarter future views – email them to newsletter their reassurances that they do not @oxcivicsoc.org.uk or write to me at intend building in Green Belt, by adding If our environment, including our land- the address on the back page. We’ll 'so far', or 'yet' to their statements. The scape and countryside is not only to be print your views in our next issue. question does not appear to be 'if' they protected, but to be better protected, will sanction building, but 'when'. and if our communities are to be enhanced and successful new ones Peter Thompson All planning, whether policy-making or created, we MUST have the very best Chairman taking decisions on individual develop- planning. Simply fighting a rearguard ment proposals, is required to consider action against development and trying the consequences of the actions, under to enforce historic constraints, while the headings of environmental, social perpetuating the fragmented, dys- and economic effects. So the negative functional planning we muddle along consequences of Green Belt policies with now is not likely to produce a cannot be ignored: successful or visionary outcome. increased pressure to build on non- Green Belt land, rural and urban That means planning for the wider separation of residential areas from Oxford region and it means plan- workplaces, increasing commuting, ning for transport needs at the out- traffic, congestion and consequent set. It means answering difficult environmental and economic effects questions, like should we sacrifice increased demand for road-building exacerbation of housing problems - Simply fighting a rearguard action availability and affordability. against development and trying to enforce historic constraints, while A 60-year-old decision *Oxford Futures can be ordered from perpetuating the fragmented, Liz Grosvenor, 15 Lime Walk, Oxford Decisions on planning issues are sup- dysfunctional planning we muddle OX3 7AB price £6.50 for members posed to reflect a considered balance along with now is not likely to (£10 non-members) including of these consequences. But conse- produce a successful or visionary p & p. Cheques should be made quences depend on circumstances. payable to Oxford Civic Society. Can anyone argue that the circum- outcome for the region. 2 oxcivicsoc.org.uk Walks in Oxford are now a click away ... Oxford is a wonderful place to to get more out of the city explore and a new website makes it by exploring it on foot. easy to find interesting walks. At the end of March our Richard Bradley from the Streets for President, Sir Hugo People team reports. Brunner, launched the Walks in Oxford website. Oxford must have some of the best This lists over 70 walks urban walks in the country, taking in categorised by theme not just the colleges but also canal and (historic, science/ industry riverside, former villages, parks, indus- for example) with infor- try, churches and centuries of history. mation about the start But finding good walks or fully appreciat- Sir Hugo Brunner, Peter Thompson and other enthusias- point, length and whether ing what a walk offers isn’t always easy. tic walkers helped launch the website outside the Visitor it’s a circular walk. Information Centre in Broad Street in March Last year we teamed up with Oxford Note that the details of the walks are We’d really welcome feedback on the Pedestrians Association and Oxford not on the site, but one click tells you Ramblers to identify the most interesting website – www.oxfordwalks.org.uk – where to find the source material, be it published walks and find a way to and your ideas about new walks to book or leaflet or another website. promote them. Our aim is to help people include. You can email us at [email protected] We are very grateful to all the website’s authors and developers and to Oxford City Council and Visit Oxfordshire (Visitor Information Centre) for their support. Another brilliant Spring Clean! Hundreds of local people turned out over 90 community groups organised And the rest of the year ... two-hour litter picks in their areas and to support the OxClean Spring Clean OxClean is a year-round campaign. We many individuals joined in. as Rosanne Bostock explains. try to keep up the pressure on all the local authorities to improve their game Our annual Spring Clean is now in its A team from the Society supported the litter pick at Blackbird Leys. and work with schools to build a gener- eighth year and is as popular as ever as ation who are litter aware. a community event. Almost all of the The two-day event in March was LEA primary and secondary schools We’d like to record our warmest thanks launched at Oxford Spires Academy, to Liz Storrar, who has kindly been (36 of them) turned out to support it, which has made great efforts in and helping us with school visits for many around the school and in the Cowley The Hart team from East Oxford with their years and is now stepping down. Liz impressive haul of rubbish and recyclables neighbourhood.