‘Massive collective failure’ over university student flats in Port Meadow

11:00am Wednesday 13th February 2013 in News

Save Port Meadow protesters at Oxford Town Hall on Thursday night Save Port Meadow protesters at Oxford Town Hall on Thursday night

FORMER civic leaders last night claimed there had been a “massive collective failure” in the building of student accommodation blocks near Port Meadow.

Five former Lord Mayors of the city have welcomed talks between the city council and Oxford University, which is building in Roger Dudman Way.

At a planning meeting last Thursday, councillors voted to begin talks with the university to try to persuade it to reduce the height of the buildings.

In a letter to the Oxford Mail, Lib Dems John Goddard, Alan Armitage and Jim Campbell, along with Labour’s Mary Clarkson and Green Elise Benjamin, said they acknowledged the need for more student accommodation but said the impact of the new buildings on Port Meadow had not been forseen.

The letter said: “We believe that, without any evil intent, there has been a massive collective failure to properly anticipate and visualise the outcome.”

They said failure to act would cause “lasting damage”.

A university spokesman said: ‘A meeting on Friday [with the city council] was the first of what will probably be several conversations and we will have more to say when these discussions have been completed.”

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Comments(9)

zimmer, Wolvecote. says...
11:55am Wed 13 Feb 13

In my many years I have seen many changes to The Meadow at both ends and all along the East side, I have learned that we cannot stop progress and modernisation, and that anything that does not kill you makes you stronger, and these flats will not kill you. We all have to accept that things will not look the same in our later years and embrace the new, otherwise you will turn out like some of my neighbours, that are grumpy old men. For the sake of our grandchildren now is the time to embrace new buildings, for what good is a view of a few trees going to do them when they are looking for houses to live in or a place to study.

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bart-on simpson says...
3:15pm Wed 13 Feb 13

Virtually all paid-up members of the Green Party in the photo.

The brave woman on the left explained her party's philosophy by using her class-based language to denegrate the new Barton development last year at a public inquiry, as well as described the Green's economic policy which was pure handloom weavers and tugging forelocks.

No wonder the Chinese laugh at such historical English ways.

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oafie says...
3:41pm Wed 13 Feb 13

And just look at the numbers of comments there have been........so many locals have been pushed out of the area ........there's hardly anyone left to object.

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Myron Blatz says...
12:22am Thu 14 Feb 13

All just goes to prove once again how inefective and inept the Planning Authority really is in Oxford. As for needing more and more Student Accomodation, WHY do we 'need' yet more students in Oxford? They often take much-needed accommodation out of the market, and stop people on low incomes - and those who actually pay income and council tax - from getting affordable housing,

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RocketMan says...
12:46am Thu 14 Feb 13

We should urge Councilors and the University to not get dragged into the blame game. They must have the strength and courage to collectively move forward in the interests of Oxford as a whole to solve this issue.

Port meadow and the heritage skyline are very important and need to be secured for future future generations to appreciate.

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Myron Blatz says...
4:52am Thu 14 Feb 13

Yes, let's enable local politicians, Oxford University and the rest of us simply close our eyes and shut our ears to such issues (used to be called problems) and since they longer exists we can simply forget them - or as they now say, move forward. Or, we could get off our backsides and DO something! We elect City Councillors to act on our behalf, and we also pay through Income and Council Taxes for people who work in our local Planning Authority. It's known as ACCOUNTABILITY.

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Geoff Roberts says...
8:18am Thu 14 Feb 13

This isn't progress or modernisation. There is nothing modern about building stuff that isn't what local communities need. I don't but the "collective" failure argument, there are people who rule over others, this is not a democracy. Yes the system that lots of people have built is failing us but there are individuals who could change things by, as others have pointed out, being transparent and accountable. That includes holding your hand up and stepping down when you've made such mistakes.

There's also another thing people can do: Stop voting the people who keep messing up.

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Geoff Roberts says...
8:20am Thu 14 Feb 13

We need more blame and finger pointing, not less. Lack of apportioning blame is the issue! Blame people an get shot of them.

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jooly says...
8:09pm Thu 14 Feb 13

http://www.thepetiti
onsite.com/850/008/8
30/port-meadow-oxfor
d-damaged-views/

Please click on the link above and sign the petition to make your views heard on this building.

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