All posts in the topic Bonn Square (Short link)
Summary
- There are 103 posts — by 23 authors — in this topic.
- Latest post made by Julia Gasper at Dec 03 16:45 UTC
I see a sign has gone up at Bonn Square advertising that work to transform it into a ‘dynamic urban space’ with a ‘unified, uncluttered look’ is to start in January. This work will include the planting of ‘new trees selected for their seasonal variation.’ What the public relations consultant hired to produce these thrilling words failed to mention was that the changes would also involve the chopping down of all existing mature trees, an end to the grassy areas and flowers, and the removal of the gravestones that provide a last link with the lost church of St. Peter le Bailey. All these will be replaced by a barren sandstone pavement (undoubtedly soon to be pock-marked with chewing gum) edged by a few new and small trees. Am I alone in finding this a very unappealing prospect? Walking or cycling up St Ebbe's each morning I see the understated beauty of the tall trees and Tirah Memorial against the background of the old stone wall of 1, New Inn Hall Street. A good picture showing the memorial in summer with a tree in full leaf can be seen here – http://www.headington.org.uk/oxon/streets/war_memorials/tirah_memorial.htm What can also be seen is the bare dusty earth, which turns to mud in winter. This is a direct result of shameful and deliberate neglect by the City Council in recent years. The locals and young people from all over the world relaxing in the shade of the trees and sitting on the old churchyard wall I saw last summer did so in spite of, not because of, the efforts of the local authority. All Bonn Square needs, and has ever needed, is a gardener, the occasional visit of a man with a broom and a few benches. But no, what could again be a green oasis in the heart of the city is to be swept away in favour of bland Euro design that would be just as at home in Bratislava or Bremen. Another troubling aspect of the proposed scheme is money. An Oxford Times report of 17/10/2007 indicated a £400,000 funding shortfall that the City Council must raise. This at a time when we are repeatedly told that there is a multi-million pound hole in the council’s budget, and in a year when many children’s playgrounds are threatened with closure due to lack of money. Should now be the time for the City Council to be funding such a money burning scheme? I understand that planning permission for the Bonn Square project was gained in 2006. But is it really too late to prevent what ultimately amounts to little more than an act of environmental and historical vandalism?
I agree with Chris regarding the expense involved in this and the removal of
the mature trees. With the impending re-development of the Westgate Ctr, would
it be possible to incorporate the re-development of Bonn square as a
requirement of the planning permission, or is it too late?
It is part of the Westgate project and the developers are contributing quite a lot of money bob price Douglas wrote: >I agree with Chris regarding the expense involved in this and the removal of the mature trees. With the impending re-development of the Westgate Ctr, would it be possible to incorporate the re-development of Bonn square as a requirement of the planning permission, or is it too late? > >Douglas Nevill > >Info about Douglas: http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/douglasnevill > >This topic's messages may be viewed at: http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/52GCnTrKMEneiyU8wvMNp2
It's always the same isn't it, THEY take decisions and the rest of us have to
put up with it. I think it's really sad that those trees are going, they are
mature and beautiful and replacing them with sad small apologies for trees is a
nonsense.
It's also the case that not many people know that half the field behind the ice
rink is going to become a temporary car park. It was nearly the whole field,
but thanks to the Green councillors, the plan was rejected. The Greens tried to
call the decision in to a meeting of the full council but it failed on a
technicality, I think they were going to try again. I cycle by that field
everyday, it's a pretty space by the river and it's always full of birds and
people. But who cares about that in the face of this nonsensical modern
attitude that everyone must shop and be able to shop in massive malls totally
unsuited to the centre of a small city. And oh yes, I forgot, the most
important thing of a all, they MUST be able to drive in order to shop. Global
warming? Oh never mind about that, let's go shopping!!
Just for the record: the decision to reject the temporary car park on the eastern side of the Ice Rink was taken by the CSW Area Committee unanimously - three Labour Councillors, one Lib Dem , one Green and one Tory . The principal case against it was mounted by the St Ebbes New Development Residents Association. bob price was a unanimousAnn wrote: > It's always the same isn't it, THEY take decisions and the rest of us have to put up with it. I think it's really sad that those trees are going, they are mature and beautiful and replacing them with sad small apologies for trees is a nonsense. > It's also the case that not many people know that half the field behind the ice rink is going to become a temporary car park. It was nearly the whole field, but thanks to the Green councillors, the plan was rejected. The Greens tried to call the decision in to a meeting of the full council but it failed on a technicality, I think they were going to try again. I cycle by that field everyday, it's a pretty space by the river and it's always full of birds and people. But who cares about that in the face of this nonsensical modern attitude that everyone must shop and be able to shop in massive malls totally unsuited to the centre of a small city. And oh yes, I forgot, the most important thing of a all, they MUST be able to drive in order to shop. Global warming? Oh never mind about that, let's go shopping!! > > Ann Furtado > > Info about Ann: http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/annfurtado > > This topic's messages may be viewed at: http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/6ltOaw0QjGMl5qW9B8wkhl
If only one had all the time in the world to trawl through the various
committees and their agendas/minutes buried deep in the council website! Was
the area committee rejection before or after the Stragic Development Control
Committee meeting which is what I was referring to? (before I suspect) At the
SDCC meeting, Colin Cook kindly told me that 'the 519 space application which
was entirely on Oxpens field was withdrawn by the applicants. The second 362
space application which is on the coach park with a small section, (a quarter
to one third of the space), on the field at the back of the ice rink was
approved by 7 votes to 2. The application may be called in to full council in
which case the decision will be put on hold until a council meeting in
January.' Sid Phelps subsequently told me that an attempt to call the decision
in to the full council failed on a technicality.
I should jolly well think the local residents were against it and I'm glad to
hear they objected, I spoke to some of them about it.
My point is, that just like that beautiful tree, when it's gone, it's gone and
it is so difficult to stop these decisions being taken, assuming that you've
managed to find out about the issue in the first place! Given how wet that
field is, I can't imagine what kind of state it will be in once people have
finished driving all over it!
Browsing the web site of Graeme Massie Architects, the lucky firm whose design was chosen to 'transform' Bonn Square, I couldn't help noticing this image. http://www.e-architect.co.uk/oxford/jpgs/bonn_square_oxford_graememassie161007.jpg Is this chunky new building really part of the proposed plan?
Have you seen the even more awful chunk the developers and planners
want to place in the Castle Mill Boatyard? Oxford is being ruined.
Pat Schlueter
All the trees are now nearly down in Bonn Square, and it is a terrible sight.
I upload a photograph taken at approximately 1.15pm today (Thursday 3 January).
The down-and-outs have moved to the Baptist Church next door.
Stephanie Jenkins
The following file was added to this topic:
Is the protestor in the sycamore on the west side still there? He still was
just after 12.00.
I see little is left of the lime in the north east corner - it is amazing how
quickly a tree that has been growing through all our life times can be
destroyed.
I will say it again - I think it is environmental vandalism, and I think the
City Council should be ashamed.
I did take quite a few pictures of Bonn Square last week, I will maybe upload a
few photos when I have the time.
Utter vandalism, I quite agree and if makes me feel very sad. So now we will
have some nasty little excuses for trees put in by the developers, perhaps soon
broken by vandals, an ugly new building and paving covered in old chewing gum.
Delightful.
Note people that I never got a reply to my question above about the ice rink
field decision though I have heard that it has possibly been called in.
Bonn Square has been for a long time an eyesore. It’s a problem that has
generated many pages of letters in the Oxford Mail, Oxford Times, Oxford
Prospect Magazine and on BBC Radio Oxford.
I find it ironic that someone has decided to protest now at the implementation
of this democratically decided decision to transform Bonn Square from a dowdy
and grim part of Oxford City Centre into something we can all be proud of.
There has been plenty of opportunity to lobby in a democratic manner your local
councillor with your preferred solution to the Bonn Square problem.
The Council giving in to this protestor would be undemocratic, it is up to such
protestors to become fully involved in the local democratic process, this means
not only complaining about a problem, but coming up with a workable and
affordable solution, that will win democratic support.
Bandying around the word democracy doesn't mean it's a decision that is
supported by the majority of the population. How many people was it who marched
against the Iraq war? It's the same with this forum which is called local
'democracy' but I'm sure only a tiny proportion of Oxford's population visit
it, let alone know about it.
Keeping up with what's going on locally is a full time job these days, and even
if one did read and respond to the so-called consultation on the redevelopment
of the Westgate, at the end of the day the responses always go down the route
of commerce as though the need to attract shoppers to Oxford was the only
conceivable way for the city to develop. As someone said in the Oxford Mail
comments today, Bonn Square suffers from 30 years of underfunded lack of
management. And as someone also said, what is to stop the druggies and other
undesirables moving back the minute it is finished when there is, once again,
no policing and no maintenance. People climb in the treetops because they feel
frustrated at not being listened to, local councillors may listen if your cause
marries with theirs but there's no guarantee. And even if they do listen, there
is often little chance of changing things at one of the numerous committees,
quangoes, talk shops and the like which substitute for genuine action now.
As someone who lives in one of the flood-threatened areas of Oxford, we see
just the same loop repeating itself founded on the same lack of action, funding
and accountability on the part of organisations, government bodies and council
officers.
Democracy is a curious thing, it seems for some people, a decision is only democratic if you agree with it and not when you disagree. If you value democracy like any other matter you have to work at it, if this means spending less time playing on your Xbox, so be it. Criticism is made of dealing with Oxford’s flood problem. The problem is providing a solution for Oxford, can make matters worse elsewhere on the River Thames. Oxford’s flood problem is a complicated technical matter requiring a great deal of expertise. There is no simple solution. Once you have decided on a strategy, there are always some who will disagree, that’s life. The next question is, do you have the resources to implement a solution. The trouble is finding the resources and skilled people to implement those proposals. Britain, now with the Olympics and other major projects is suffering a shortage of skilled engineering and construction workers. As demonstrated by Network Rail, who could not find enough skilled staff willing to complete the work on time at an economic price. The same goes for flood defences, are you prepared to have your taxes doubled or trebled, so as a flood defence program can be implemented quickly. Take Oseney Island, it is in an area prone to flooding see http://maps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/wiybyController. Perhaps it would be cheaper and better for the environment, to demolish the houses on the island and relocate the people living in Oxford’s flood plain to new safer settlements elsewhere. Even if this is the best in environmental and economic terms, I doubt inhabitants of Oseney Island would be happy, but if it means the majority of Oxford’s taxpayers will not suffer massive tax increases, I am sure a vast majority would support such a proposal. As for the Iraq War Protest, the majority of the population did not turn out to participate and there was no referendum, in fact a majority of our elected representatives supported Tony Blair’s policies and the government won the subsequent election. In fact, it is doubtful that participants shared a common cause, as they included groups mutually opposed to each other. The point is most people are satisfied with what our politicians do for us, so they don’t see a need to take an active role in politics. Instead they get on with their lives. If you are dissatisfied, the only answer is to participate, the political parties are always on the look out for dedicated skilled potential councillors.
I don't feel that either the city or the county council makes democratic decisions. The council always sets its mind on what it is going to do, and the subsequent "consultation" is nothing more than warning the masses what is going to happen. The most it ever does after receiving comments is to make a few tweaks: no idea is abandoned, because by the time a scheme gets as far as consultation, too much money has already been spent. I certainly opposed the plan for Bonn Square. Just have a look at this: does anyone on this forum really think it is the best possible solution? http://www.oxford.gov.uk/files/seealsodocs/30253/New%20Bonn%20Square.pdf Skateboarders will probably enjoy the silly slope, however. And everyone is standing exactly where the cyclists will inevitably cut a corner. One really positive effect that a forum such as this could have is to warn everyone when ideas like this go out to consultation. Everyone in Oxford will have an opinion on this scheme, but I bet most of them never knew there was a consultation, let alone responded.
Soooo patronising, Nicholas. I don't even know what an Xbox is.
Andrew Smith
Thanks Andrew and Stephanie, totally agree with your points. Most of us are
frantically busy with work and family and do what we can to address what is
happening around us. The idea that most people are happy with what politicians
do for us is laughable. The majority of people did not vote in the current US
government, is that democracy? Every MP knows that you must multiply by 10 for
each letter you receive from a constituent to allow for all those people who
never got around to writing but feel the same, what does that do to the figures
of those who marched against the Iraq war? Look at the polls on YouGov, they
consistently show that people have no confidence in politicians and disagree
with government policy.
Stephanie's point about this forum acting as a potential warning point about
future developments is a good one, I can't think of any other apart from the
letters page of the Oxford Times which occasionally turns up trumps. For
example, the vexed question of whether or not it is a good idea to have an
incinerator on the outskirts of Oxford. Now there's a good subject for
discussion!
p.s. re doubling taxes to pay for things, that hoary old chestnut people always
drag out in the hopes of frightening off those who protest about things, well,
yes, I think we should all pay more all round for the benefit of all. And if
successive governments from the days of Thatcher had not cut public spending to
the bone, we might have a country and infrastructure of which we could be
proud, instead of the cheapskate, limp along, dog-eat-dog society which we have
now.
Come on guys lets not pussy foot around here. Bonn Square has been an eysore in
that part of Oxford ever since the Westgate was built so I welcome a radical
modernisation of it. As for the trees, well it's a shame that they could not
have been incorporated into the new designs. I along with all the other
residents of this city must take the blame as no one has been interested in it
until now (Too late). May be thats because there are very few of us as most of
the city is made up of students interested in only studying, boozing and
partying and not much else I fear.
I support the fact that the heritage should be preserved but there comes a time
when modrnisation is necessary.
In support of the council the area has been a magnet for every drunk and down
and out in the city, the ground is mostly bare earth with the odd scattering of
grass and I look forward to a modern people friendly rest area.
People should start getting proactive and change the course of these plans
early and not reactive as in this case where the law is on their (Developer)
side and change will be difficult.
Why dont more people attend their local council meetings or lobby their
councilor where they can make a difference.
Probably because the majority don't care?
On the subject of flooding, Ann and others may be pleased to know that I had a
meeting outside her house at the end of Duke Street on Monday with various
officers, and I'm confident that some work will soon take place which should
reduce the risk of future flooding for people in Duke Street and Marlborough
Court.
I'm disappointed that it has taken so long and such a lot of effort to get to
this point and there are still some problems: co-ordination between the
different agencies is poor and communication with
councillors and residents is abysmal (though I believe Rebecca Carley, the CSW
area co-ordinator, has a newsletter ready to go out to residents). However,
funding for this work is in place, which is a relief.
Various options are being looked at for the protection of Bullstake Close, and
Osney Island should soon have the benefit of the demountable barriers, which
the EA is buying. I am trying to ensure that the feasibility studies for Earl
Street are completed urgently and that funding is in place for a culvert under
Lamarsh Road and a demountable barrier at the other end or whatever else the EA
recommends.
The City Council has appointed a new interim director, Tim Sadler, who will
lead on flooding issues, and although he doesn't start till next week, I think,
he agreed to come out with me last Monday to see the flood-hit areas. He's on
secondment from the Vale of the White Horse District Council, where he was also
responsible for flood issues, so he's pretty knowledgeable. I was able to
introduce him to Nigel Bray and we had a very useful discussion, especially
about Earl Street.
So work has been going on behind the scenes. I'm very sorry that communication
has been so poor. I'll try to produce another ward newsletter soon to keep
everyone up-to-date. In the meantime, I'll continue to read the Forum comments
with interest.
Susanna
City Councillor for Jericho and Osney Ward
7 Rawlinson Road
OXFORD
OX2 6UE
01865 554001
I just love the way everyone can lone up groups of people who happen to be
different from them, label them "druggies and undesirables" (Ann) or "students
interested in only studying, boozing and partying and not much else" (Gus)
and casually blame them for all the ills of the city.
I'm tempted to create a new category - "middle-class grumpies with nothing
better to do than tap away on their laptops" - but that wouldn't really be
playing the game, would it?
I'm not sure that anyone is blaming groups of people for the ills of the city.
My term 'druggies and undesirables' was used out of haste and because I needed
some way to describe 'people hanging about' which is one of the things that
apparently upsets many people and will continue to be a feature of the new
square unless something different happens on the public responsibility front.
My point about whether this forum is 'democratic' was exactly that it's
probably made up of those who have access to a computer and knowledge, time and
confidence to leave posts. Yes, perhaps we are all middle class grumpies, so,
how are we going to spread the word about this forum and make sure others have
their say. What term would you like to use given that we are now said to be all
'middle-class'? I would be more than happy for the homeless to have the
opportunity to make posts, I'll bet their lot is not a happy one.
Thanks for the message Susanna, you work very hard on our behalf and my
complaint about lack of action was not aimed at any particular councillor or
group of councillors, more the system and the subterfuge and sleight of hand of
central government in cutting funding and making it possible for decisions to
be pushed through against the wishes of local people and their representatives.
This topic has come a long way from the original posting which expressed
sadness at the loss of trees and frustration at the redesign of Bonn Square.
This forum will be utterly useless if it descends into sneering at each other
for the terms we use so perhaps we should stick to the arguments and assume the
best of each other. My feeling is that mostly people do care but they are too
busy to get involved or just don't know how.
At 12.30 today, Monday, thanks to the brave efforts of Gabriel and his friends,
the last sycamore is still standing. It is clear they have a lot of support
from local people - I had to join a queue to sign their petition.
I have a simple suggestion for the City Council - don't chop down this last
tree. Leave it standing to come into leaf this spring and to provide shade for
the square in the summer. Show that you can listen to Oxford residents who care
about the city.
I second Chris Brewer's appeal to the City Council. It would be so
refreshing if just for once they could listen to the residents who pay
their wages.
Pat Schlueter
I support Chris Brewer's appeal also.
While Bonn Square may have been an eyesore,
just a little TLC could have gone a long way.
If it is not too late to save the last tree
standing, then that should be done if at all
possible.
I signed the petition too. This tree could be the saving grace of a
design described by someone on the Oxford Mail website as a "scorched
earth policy".
Why can't that one tree be saved? It looks attractive, and marks the
border between the square and the church. It doesn't get in the way of
the main plan, and although it offers shade it doesn't give
opportunity for ne'er-do-wells to hide.
I am uploading a picture of the tree, taken at lunchtime today, in
case any of you can't picture it. (I don't actually think it is a
sycamore.)
The following file was added to this topic:
Though I think nonviolent direct action has its place, I do not think Bonn
Square is a case where democracy has ‘failed’ and direct action is warranted.
Yesterday I happened upon a newsletter of New Road Baptist Church in 1999(!)
and it appeared that there had already been extensive consultation by the City
Council about the redevelopment of Bonn Square over the years. Cynicism and
apathy about our democratic process is no excuse for unreasonable complaint.
A few months ago, there was a case of a contentious tree in the Science Area
which people (including me) tried to save, through a democratic process. The
City Council chamber was full of citizens, many supporters of the tree, but
also some of other opinions. The tree eventually got felled, but everybody had
a chance to voice their opinion, and the decision was reached democratically.
‘Bonn Square belongs to everybody’ has a specific meaning within our democratic
system: it does not mean any punter can go and start an allotment there.
Oxford is full of green spaces, from college gardens to cows grazing on the meadow. I suggest as a new year resolution you all take time out and visit them, for suggest walk see http://www.oxfordprospect.co.uk/Oxfordtrip.htm
Nic – thanks for the plug for your web site, and generous advice. The centre of Oxford has very little publicly accessible green space, and is rapidly losing what little it has. In recent years we have lost • The lawn around the Radcliffe Camera – now fenced off • The garden at the foot of Carfax Tower – now the ugly Sofi 2 café • The Botanic Gardens – these used to be free every day, but now charges apply March to October and at weekends in winter The destruction of the public garden at Bonn Square is something Oxford cannot afford, that is why so many local people oppose it. Passing the remains of the garden just now I noticed a sign saying ‘Greens against Desicration’. The suspect spelling aside, this is interesting. Bonn Square is in the ward of the Green City Councillor Sushila Dhall – yet I cannot recall her or any other Green Councillor saying a single word about the destruction of the trees and garden. The Oxfordshire Green Party web site - http://www.greenoxford.com/ - certainly has nothing to say. If Sushila Dhall or one of her colleagues reads this, maybe they could let us know what they think?
Have you got a suggested favorite walk us locals could try, what about posting
your suggestion on this forum. Since the walking would help us appreciate our
fine citym spot where it needs improvement and help keep us fit.
Just got word from a fellow Green Party member that 40 other trees on the other side of Westgate are under threat of being cut down, and that some activists are protecting them now. See http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/oxford/2008/01/389029.html For more about Greens’ view on Westgate etc., see for example http://matthewsellwood.blogspot.com/2006/10/westgate.html Also, check the voting record in the City Council on the abovementioned tree in the Science Area: the Greens were the only consistent party against felling it.
'it appeared that there had already been extensive consultation by the City
Council about the redevelopment of Bonn Square over the years'
...exactly, it gets to the point that no one bothers to take any notice anymore
or is even able to remember where the process is. Just like developers who keep
putting in revised planning applications, especially in August when everyone is
away, until the opposition gets fed up or misses the moment through being
occupied elsewhere.
My experience of college gardens is that they are exclusive places that those
not part of the university have to pay for the privilege of visiting. However,
occasionally the university behaves more sensitively than the council and when
there were plans to chop down a beautiful tree on the Headington campus a
couple of years ago, they were abandoned when there was a large protest.
I can't see any reason for chopping that last tree down in Bonn Square, well
done the protesters. I just emailed Sushanna and got the following reply I am
not currently able to access my email, please call me on 01865 553415 - so I
guess it's feel free!
Dear Chris,
I'm sure Sushila would have done a lot of work around the Bonn Square issue
over the last few weeks, but unfortunately she has been quite ill, and has just
come out of hospital. She is not currently able to access her email. Green
councillors spoke against the Bonn Square plans and did not vote for them. As
for our attitude to the preservation of green space and trees, you will
probably have seen from the Oxford Mail that Cllr Deborah Glass-Woodin was
(wrongly) arrested today while trying to argue for a 'stay of execution' for
the trees around the Westgate car park - so please rest assured we feel
passionately about access to green space and opposition to concreting over the
city centre.
Best wishes,
Councillor Matt Sellwood
Holywell Ward
Green Party
Matt – thanks very much for the reply. I now fully understand why we have not
heard from Sushila Dhall recently, and I hope very much she is well again soon.
There is a problem which Ann has mentioned higher on this thread, it is very
difficult for local people to follow the complex planning processes, which
often stretch over years. The decisions of planning or area committees are not
always reported in the local media, and it is not easy to extract relevant
information from the City Council web site. Searching for ‘Bonn Square’ on the
site reveals only a poorly rendered, illegible document presumably produced by
the architect Graeme Massie. Nothing is revealed about how the planning
decision was made and by who.
I am shocked and dismayed by the arrest of Deborah Glass Woodin. The City
Council is behaving in a ruthless and cynical way. It is now important for all
people who care about the natural environment of Oxford to be vigilant and to
make our voices heard.
Dear Matt
I'm sure that you would not want to convey a misleading impression - the
plans for Bonn Square mean that there will be more trees not less; and
the Westgate development also involves replanting a large number of
trees - precisely how many I can't remember - as well as the creation
of a roof garden. I know that you oppose the Westgate but the plans for
the area and the West End have emphasised the importance of replacing
and improving the tree cover.
bob
Matthew wrote:
> Dear Chris,
>
> I'm sure Sushila would have done a lot of work around the Bonn Square issue
over the last few weeks, but unfortunately she has been quite ill, and has just
come out of hospital. She is not currently able to access her email. Green
councillors spoke against the Bonn Square plans and did not vote for them. As
for our attitude to the preservation of green space and trees, you will
probably have seen from the Oxford Mail that Cllr Deborah Glass-Woodin was
(wrongly) arrested today while trying to argue for a 'stay of execution' for
the trees around the Westgate car park - so please rest assured we feel
passionately about access to green space and opposition to concreting over the
city centre.
I'm really sorry to hear that Sushila is ill and also sorry to see that I
mangled her name quite unintentionally. Hope she gets well soon and thanks for
the info.
I was horrified today when passing through central Oxford to see the wanton
destruction of Bonn Square.
Whoever heard in advance that there was going to be anything done to it?
Whoever heard any harm of the people who may have hung around there? I don't
think they were an eyesore. I think that the concrete environment created by
modern philistine architects is an eyesore, and the nasty little spruces or
Japanese acers that they put in when they have ruined everything are no
substitute for mature, native, broad-leaved trees which create the air we
breathe.
The destruction of that garden is yet another theft of something beautiful that
belonged to the residents of Oxford. The developers may have a legal right to
do it - but I still question whether they have a moral right. Without doubt the
amount of publicity and advance discussion this plan got was tiny. It was not
sufficient to regard the result as democratic. Unless you live very near to
something, you don't get consulted and of course voters didn't go looking for
plans about destroying Bonn Square to comment on them - who would have foreseen
it?
The council and its bureaucrats here in Oxford never stop ruining the town.
They and their developer chums are the biggest vandals around. I admire the
green-minded folk who have gone in to try to save that last lonely, lovely
sycamore.
I am grateful to Chris Brewer for drawing attention to the facts behind this
case and I agree strongly with what Ann Furtado has said.
If Sushila Dhall was ill, she should have deputized somebody else to carry out
her responsibilities.
What I want now is the whole plan to be scrapped and trees of the same variety
re-planted on the original land, which should remain what it was - a
churchyard. Anyone who wants to ring me about anything that could still be
done to save that tree will find my number in the phone book. -Julia Gasper.
Chris Brewer Please see the following link to the Oxford City Council website about Bonn Square: http://www.oxford.gov.uk/planning/bonn-square.cfm You will find more detailed information about the project (including some legible documents) as well as information about the planning decision. Chris Lee
I sent a message to Michael Crofton-Briggs of the City Council's environment
department requesting a last-minute Emergency Tree Preservation order on the
last tree in Bonn Square. He refused.
His e-mail address is <mcrofton-briggs@oxford.gov.uk>
Maybe there is still time to get Tree preservation orders put on the trees near
the Westgate Centre, if enough people send e-mails before the weekend.
I understand that it was the votes of the Labour and Libdem councillors that
got this crazy plan passed in the first place. The same goes for the woeful
decision to re-build the Westgate shopping centre. It's quite new and the
middle of Oxford needs a rest from perpetual re-building of everything.
My view is that as far as the trees in Bonn are concerned it's not democracy
that has failed, it's us.
What does bother me now, though, is that if the protesters I spoke to earlier
today are to be believed, Gabriel is being "starved out" of his protest by
being refused food and water. Please tell me that in Oxford in 2008 this is
not true.
It is surely against all human rights and decency to deal with a nonviolent
protest in this heavy-handed way.
I’ve just been down to Bonn Square. There’s not much happening. There were two policemen and five security personnel. An amiable security man I spoke to told me that Gabriel and friend were still up the tree, which is surrounded by tall metal fences, but that he expects the protest to end tomorrow when the City Council gets a possession order. He told me I was not allowed to walk up to the Tirah Memorial – why a citizen of Oxford can’t walk in what remains of an Oxford public garden I don’t know. So I suppose we will see what happens tomorrow. I attach a photo of today’s scene. There were three letters about Bonn Square in the Oxford Times on Friday. An excellent contribution in support of Gabriel Chamberlain from Green Councillor Nuala Young, a useful, if incomplete and partial, summary of the planning process from Michael Crofton-Briggs, and this – http://www.theoxfordtimes.net/news/letters/display.var.1953101.0.desirable_design.php from Andrew Nairne, Director of Modern Art Oxford. Now, Mr. Nairne is of course entitled to his view, but I do think he might have mentioned two things. The ‘arts totem’ in the new square will be used to advertise events at MAO, as will the flags on the tall lamp posts. So MAO will directly benefit from the destruction of the Bonn Square public garden. Also, MAO each year receives a considerable amount of money from Oxford City Council. This Annual Report – http://www.modernartoxford.org.uk/media/pdf/160107_045959.pdf on the MAO web site reveals the amount was £66,000 in both 2005 and 2006.
The following file was added to this topic:
Well done, Chris. And well done to Gabriel.
I've no doubt tat the court will side with the council.
As for the replacement of mature trees that we had got used to and loved,
with new non-native ones, it's a bit like getting home to find that your
husband has been killed and replaced with a 9-year-old Chinese boy. It's
just not quite the same !
Chris Lee - thanks for posting the link to the web page, that's very useful.
One thing, the link 'Bonn Square Transformation page 1' leads to a document
that appears to be, or be part of, Graeme Massie's entry to the international
design competition. Can someone (Michael Crofton-Briggs?) please confirm this
is the case? And was this document one of those the public were consulted on?
Yes, that is the ghastly vision that they have on their webpage, done in
appropriately tacky commercial art, and have you seen the ludicrous, pompous
insulting jargon of the text that goes with it all?
The plan looks sterile and sanitised, the people are like zombies - or like
half-vapourized victims of nuclear attack.
The whole scheme is a disaster and a tragedy.
We need to name and shame the councillors who voted for this and kick them
out at the upcoming May council elections.
Please will somebody put a list on the site of all those councillors
responsible for the scheme and preferably all the people on the committee
that chose the revolting Graeme Massie design.
Bonn Square, now with out the trees, looks like a really nice open public space
for Oxford. From the plans, we should have something, when completed, most
people will appreciate.
In today’s Oxford Mail I read this about tree protester Gabriel Chamberlain.
Mr Hambridge said: ‘He wasn't very well at all. He was suffering from fatigue
because of a lack of food and water and was really tired - he didn't look very
good.’
So basically he was starved out. I think this should give us all pause for
thought about the kind of country we are now living in.
Now that the damage has been done, can we think about trying to make Bonn
Square a nice place again?
It seems that the Council intends to plant a row of trees (in a straight line)
along the east side of the square and a row of tall posts (also in a straight
line) along the west side.
May I suggest that more TREES be planted instead of these barren posts, and
that the trees be scattered about a bit instead of in straight lines.
We need trees to offset the starkness of the proposed new buildings and provide
some transition between the old and the new. And we need some on the west side
as well, to provide some SHADE on a hot afternoon.
Both tourists and residents (don't forget the people who live here) enjoyed
this space as it used to be, because it provided an informal grassy area to
relax in, like a small park in the middle of the city.
But now the Council wants to control people by getting them to sit on
designated seats (hope they're not the shiny modern metal type) beneath a row
of ugly posts with CAMERAS watching them.
Go home Big Brother and give us back our shady little nook amongst the trees.
Chris Brewer
Yes the documents on this page were part of Graeme Massie's entry.
Consultation was on planning application drawings that were based on these, but
were architectural drawings rather than artists impressions.
Chris Lee
Thanks for posting up those links, Bridget. I like your name ‘Desolation Square’, and it was good to see the comments on the flickr site. I thought when the lamp posts and flags and CCTV cameras are in place it could be re-named the ‘Goddard Price Plaza’ in honour of the political leaders who pushed the scheme through. Possibly the re-naming could happen at the ‘parade of officials’ we have been promised. Certainly retaining the name Bonn doesn’t seem appropriate, as the people of Bonn take a take a pride in their city trees, as can be see here – http://www.bonn.de/umwelt_gesundheit_planen_bauen_wohnen/umweltschutz/baumschutz/index.html My German isn’t up to much, but my friend speaks it like a native, and she renders their tree policy thus - 'The federal city of Bonn has since 1985 pursued the goal to particularly protect the trees within the city, as trees serve to secure the ability of nature to maintain itself. The trees should be conserved and maintained due to their rareness, distinctiveness, and beauty, as well as to invigorate, define or maintain the local character. They also serve to improve the climate within the settlement. To achieve these goals, the statutes for the protection of trees in the federal city of Bonn have been adopted. According to these, in principle any deciduous tree with a circumference of 100 cm or more, measured 100 cm above ground, or any conifer with a circumference of 150 cm or more, measured 100 cm above ground, are protected and may not be felled or severely cut without permission. Details are found in the statutes for the protection of trees in the federal city Bonn.' So, if Bonn Square was in Bonn, the trees would still be there. As for Bridget’s ideas to limit the damage, I strongly agree. Especially, as I mentioned in this letter to the Oxford Times – http://www.theoxfordtimes.net/news/letters/display.var.1969564.0.forecourt_future.php - the architect Graeme Massie proposed retaining some of the existing trees, and adding to them. His exact words ‘We propose a considered grove of trees adjacent to New Inn Hall Street. This will incorporate the majority of significant existing trees and will be supplemented by additional Limes, Sycamore and Trees of Heaven.' Incidentally, I did write to every single Liberal Democrat Councillor, when the last sycamore was still standing, suggesting it was retained, to provide shade for the square. I also supplied a compilation of the many comments in favour of the trees posted on the Oxford Mail web site. I received one reply, from Jean Fooks. She said it was not possible.
Dear All,
One thing that seems to have been forgotton is the fact that there are probably
burials within it, and what has been proposed for it seems totally inpersonal
and shows no respect for those interred.
Are these remains going to be reinterred and if so where?
I cannot help feeling that this is a good example of how those in power totally
disregard the non-university history of Oxford. - I feel that a plaque should
at least be provided (in a fairly promenent place) to mark the fact that this
is indeed the site of St Peter-Le-Baily's graveyard (Could those councillors on
this forum arange this?).
With the lack of affordable homes within the City many decendants of Oxford
families have been forced into a kind of economic exile. The result is that
some of my relatives feel like "a minority".
So in the spirit of celebrating diversity could the "powers that be" consider
commemorating (if not preserving)aspects of Oxford's non University Heritage?
Debs (DLH)
I have been wondering about the burials at Bonn Square too. When the city council did a preliminary dig there at the time the idea was being mooted, I actually saw some human bones in a heap one lunchtime. I imagine that the city council intends to leave the bones under the concrete. There could be several thousand people buried there, so it wouldn't be practical to exhume them all. It is the bones and composted bodies which have raised the level of the square to what it is today; it would originally have been the same level as Queen Street. The Tirah monument is presumably perched on top of bones, and that was put in place in 1900, not long after St-Peter-le-Bailey church was demolished in 1874 and when many people of that parish would still have remembered the dead buried there. The same kind of thing happened at the Plain roundabout where the dead of the original St Clements church are buried, and that has a memorial stone which sets a good precedent: see http://www.headington.org.uk/oxon/streets/inscriptions/east/churchyard.htm I have just been looking at the Oxford Mail & Times archive, and here is a letter from someone in Marston about Bonn Square. It was published in the Oxford on 7 April 2006, nearly two years ago: "Sir I was horrified to see in the winning architect's plans for Bonn Square published in your paper, March 10, that at least two more beautiful mature old trees will disappear. Trees of this size take over 100 years to grow and provide essential natural beauty in a townscape bereft of it. They should not be destroyed, but could be made into a feature with an area of grass and flowers around them. Those trees, if allowed to stay, as well as combating carbon dioxide emissions, could help to improve that area of the centre of Oxford far more than the concrete jungle of poles and paving stones provided by this new plan, and would be cheaper to implement." And here is an article in the Oxford Mail on 26 October 2006 about what the council proposed for the square: http://archive.oxfordmail.net/2006/10/26/110946.html So it was pretty clear from the start what was going to happen to Bonn Square, and I am afraid that I can confirm that the city council did consult properly, even though I loathe and detest the plan. Everyone who lives anywhere in Oxford has an interest in the city centre, and must bear in mind that as hardly any citizens live in the centre any more, it is they who must speak up. If the number of people who are protesting now had protested at consultation, the city council just might have modified its plans, although I don't think you can ever entirely stop them doing what they "consult" on. Stephanie Jenkins
Stephanie, I don't think it was clear from the start what was going to happen. Graeme Massie's design - http://www.oxford.gov.uk/files/seealsodocs/71055/Bonn%20Square%20Transformation%20page%201.pdf makes clear that some original trees were to be retained, and added to. But by the time the scheme came to the Central, South and West Area Committee on June 13th, 2006, it included these words - The proposed design for Bonn Square includes lowering of existing ground levels from the rear (north) to improve physical access to the front and as a consequence it is not possible to retain any of the existing trees, due to the impact on their roots, and provide a reasonable degree of public safety. It is also not possible to amend the ground levels around the existing trees to meet acceptable arboricultural standards without compromising the integrity of the design or compromising the health of the trees. All can be seen here - http://www.oxford.gov.uk/files/meetingdocs/35723/Item6(2).pdf At some point between the summer of 2005 and the summer of 2006 the scheme was radically changed. So the key question is when and why the scheme was altered. It is noticeable that many people now say they didn't realise all the trees would be lost - but given the way the scheme was changed, it is easy to see why.
I have asked Dee Sinclair and Tia Macgregor, my local City Councillors here in
Headington Quarry, to make a thorough investigation into when, and why, the
plans were changed, and who was responsible.
Delia Sinclair has admitted to me in an e-mail that there was a change to the
plans after the consultation process.
She still insists that this was democratic.
I don't think it is at all. A major alteration in a plan after the public
consultation had been carried out is a very serious matter and somebody must be
held to blame.
Either the leader of the City Council or some bureaucrat such as Mr
Crofton-Briggs must be held responsible.
It amounts to misleading the public, and whoever is responsible, their job
should be on the line.
Delia has not authorized me to forward her message to the group so I am unable
to do so. But I am keeping it on file!
PS Desolation Square is a good new name for the mess they have left. Let it
stick.
Why are there so many negative people about? Bonn Square has had more coverage than many other issues in Oxford that are far more important. It looks like there are enough people who think that the square should be bigger, better, different, and and.., so why not pool this resource into some real action and persuade the developers to change its view and not keep running it down by tagging it with bad vibes already. Building sites look like this until they are finished. Ive been involved in opposing plans for many years around Cowley where your White van man builder has been systematically converting houses into flats. This is going on all over Oxford and there is very little that can be done. Planning laws are complex and in the end the majority of developers get thier way. If they don't they just appeal and a nice man from the Deputy prime ministers office gives the OK from an office hundreds of miles away. When they do this we pay for it because the local council usually has to pay costs. If change and more power to the people is required you all need to push the government to change the laws that give developers the upper hand. For me Bonn Square has been an eyesore for many