Pressure to reopen closed meadow rec

4:02pm Thursday 11th December 2008

Comments (1)   Have your say »

Pressure is mounting on Oxford City Council to re-open negotiations with Magdalen College over the future of Oxford’s Angel and Greyhound Meadow.

The collapse of talks between the council and the college has resulted in the closure of a children’s play area and sparked fears that access to parts of the well-loved meadow may be stopped.

Residents have now launched a petition calling for immediate action to save the meadow for the public.

A demonstration is being planned at Oxford Town Hall before a meeting of councillors on Monday, when Green councillor Nuala Young will submit a motion on the meadow’s future.

Ms Young, who represents St Clement’s ward, will call on the council to “negotiate in good faith” the renewal of the lease.

And she warned negotiations should apply not just for the south western end, but the whole of the meadow.

She said: “The Angel and Greyhound Meadows have for many years been enjoyed as a necessary walking area for residents of the terraced streets that abut them.”

Play area equipment including swings and a slide have already been removed from the small park.

Magdalen College senior bursar Charles Young said the rent paid to Magdalen for leasing the meadow to the council for public recreation has remained at £50 plus service charges for more than 20 years.

He said: “The college has offered a new 15-year lease at a rent of £65, which is certainly an increase, but of only £15 a year.

“The problem is that under the old lease the council accepted responsibility for repairs and maintenance, including cutting the grass and hedges and clearing litter, as well as the cost of insurance. They have refused to accept such responsibilities under a new lease, seeking to place all the costs and risks on the college.”

Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said: “In September the city offered to pay a service charge of £4,000 a year, with the college retaining responsibility for the maintenance of the field. The college disagreed.”

Mr Price said college representatives then changed their minds by agreeing to maintain just the southern half of the field. He added that maintenance could include the cost of replacing the footbridge.

news@oxfordmail.co.uk