Crime & Safety
Oxford: More heat for Sandy Lane housing plan on pitches
A plan to build 331 affordable homes on council land at Sandy Lane Recreation Ground has been met with backlash since the project was approved last month.
The £97.6million scheme would see the four football pitches on the grounds, a site chosen for its proximity to the upcoming Cowley Branch Line development, transformed into a 100 per cent affordable homes development of council-owned housing.
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Even though the council has promised to provide ‘new and improved’ football pitch facilities to be ready for community use before any construction work begins, football clubs and other locals have condemned the proposal.
Nick Duval, of the Kidlington Recreational Trust, said: “In my view Linda Smith should be ashamed of both herself and her colleagues on the city council.
“What right has she got to dispose of a recreation ground created to benefit the very residents that would elect her council.
“Were these asset stripping councillors not elected to serve and preserve the community.
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“If selling these green spaces from under their feet is not a stab in the back to the residents, I really do not know what is.
“Sending these people down the road to Herschel Crescent sets a deplorable precedent for others to follow, and they will.”
He said that the plan will make “disposing of further community public spaces” a possibility for future councils to pay for projects.
Oxford City Councillor Linda Smith, for Blackbird Leys, said: “This is not the sale of an asset to generate income, it is part of Oxford Labour’s plan to alleviate this city’s housing crisis through using the city council’s wholly owned housing company to build homes.
“These 331 new affordable homes will include 261 new council homes for social rent, taking local households in priority need directly off our housing register, and improving the housing situation for approximately 1,200 local people.
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“Around 300 children will have the benefit of moving into a safe, secure, efficient to heat and affordable council owned home here, with brilliant football facilities just a stones throw away.”
She added that planning policy and law gives council’s a ‘robust process’ for assessing whether a site is suitable for development – one which Sandy Lane went through when it was allocated for housing and a new Cowley Branch Line station in the 2016-2036 Local Plan.
As well as re-providing the existing football pitches 150m away at Herschel Crescent, the new development will create a ‘high-quality green space’ using existing trees and hedges around the edge of the site, for dog walking and exercise, plus new informal recreation areas.
Thames Valley Police has released a CCTV image of an individual that officers would like to speak to in connection with the incident in Didcot.
Between 7pm and 8.30pm on Sunday, March 29, in Newlands Avenue, an offender approached the victim’s door and proceeded to kick it forcefully.
The motivations of the man to kick the door are not known.
Police constable Matt Allinson, of Thames Valley Police, said: “We’re looking to identify the person in this CCTV image, as we believe they may have information that could help our investigation.
“If this person is you, or you recognise who this is, I would ask you to please get in touch with Thames Valley Police, either by making a report online or by calling us on 101, quoting reference 43260153059.
“Witnesses can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Around 5.20pm on Sunday, March 29, four people were seen throwing glass bottles against Edmonds Park Pavilion in Didcot.
Thames Valley Police has released CCTV images of individuals that officers would like to speak to in connection with the anti-social behaviour incident.
PCSO Emily Collins, of Thames Valley Police, said: “We’re looking to identify the people in these CCTV images, as we believe they may have information that could help our investigation.
“If this person is you, or you recognise who they are, I would ask you to please get in touch with Thames Valley Police, either by making a report online or by calling us on 101, quoting reference 43260159099.
“Witnesses can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Within the past week, shadow transport secretary Richard Holden criticised Labour’s “energy failure” amid growing fears of fuel shortages due to the Iran war.
Mr Holden said: “Labour’s energy failure is wrecking the Easter getaway before families have even packed their bags, grounding holidays and sending air fares into the skies.
“As conflict in the Middle East drives jet fuel prices higher, airlines will pass those costs straight on to British families already being hammered by Labour’s hikes to air passenger duty and airport business rates.
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“This is the direct consequence of Labour’s net zero obsession, destroying our energy security with real and tangible consequences for people up and down the country.
“Britain is left exposed, families are left paying, and Labour sit on their hands as the dream of a family holiday vanish.”
Earlier this week, there were reports that Tesco in Banbury was out of fuel, while others have said there has been no diesel at several petrol stations in Oxfordshire.
This newspaper has approached several supermarket brands this week to see how Oxfordshire stores’ petrol stations have been affected.
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Morrisons was one of those contacted, but informed that MFG owns and operates all of the chain’s fuel stations.
When subsequently contacted, MFG refused to comment at this time.
Sainsbury’s issued a comment, which referred to the stores across the UK as a whole, informing drivers that sites would be resupplied if shortages occurred.
A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said: “For background, we are actively monitoring stock levels in all locations and continuing to resupply sites where needed.
Tesco and Asda were both also approached for comment, but have yet to respond.
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