Sir – The Labour-run Oxford City Council is once again proposing to allow the publicly-owned land at Oxpens Meadow to be ‘developed’, in partnership with commercial development companies.
This piece of land, which is prone to flooding, and, therefore, reduces the flood water damage to nearby housing at times of high unexpected rainfall, represents green open space adjacent to St Ebbes and St Thomas’, both highly populated areas of the city, and both with notorious shortages of community facilities.
We are told we need to welcome this proposal to develop green space because it will provide ‘affordable’ housing. Time after time we are told to support development and loss of green space because we will get much-needed affordable housing.
However, when it comes down to it, hardly any of the housing built is actually affordable to ordinary people who need somewhere to live.
We are also told development ‘boosts’ the economy, but it is this type of ‘boosting the economy’ that has led us to where we are today, with shrinking green spaces, draconian cuts to public services, and steadily rising unemployment and homelessness.
Sushila Dhall, Oxford East Green Party prospective parliamentary candidate, Oxford
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