THE Friends of Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park was set up by Oxford City Council (OCC) eight years ago.

A recent document issued by the council states the friends can expect: “To be notified of and consulted upon... significant improvements”.

In December 2014, the friends submitted a formal complaint to OCC regarding the lack of proper consultation on the beach volleyball courts proposal.

This was submitted online and by email to chief executive Peter Sloman, head of parks Ian Brooke and councillor Mark Lygo, board member for parks.

Despite reminders, the friends have not to date received a formal response that addresses the matters raised in the complaint.

In February 2015, Cllr Lygo met with and told representatives of the friends “consultation starts at the planning application stage”.

This is not the basis on which the friends has operated for eight years and directly contradicts OCC’s statement that it will consult with the friends on significant improvements in Cutteslowe Park.

Cllr Lygo was asked to chase up a response to the complaint and he agreed to do so – but there was still no response.

The friends fully appreciate that the council is in charge of the parks.

But if it states that it will consult with the friends, isn’t it reasonable to expect it to do so?

Similarly, when the council gives a response time of 10 days for complaints, aren’t the friends justified in feeling aggrieved when no response has been received after five months?

It seems as though efforts have been made at every level to bury the complaint and to hurry the planning application through.

The council’s conduct on this matter has been extremely poor. Just in case they do read this, a response to the complaint would be appreciated.

SUZANNE MCIVOR
Talbot Road, Oxford