Friends of Old Headington

Ruskin Fields

There was a Full Council Meeting on December 19th 2011 at which Council officers put forward their recommendations for the development west of Barton, following the earlier consultation and discussion during the summer. The proposed development of the Ruskin fields was not included in the draft submission for the Barton Area Action Plan, nor in the Sites and Housing DPD. During December Council officers explained to Councillors their decision to omit it, and prior to the meeting on the 19th the Labour Group voted to support that decision when the draft submission was debated in Full Council.

At the meeting Veronica Hurst spoke on behalf of the Friends in support of the dropping of the Ruskin proposals, and Audrey Mullender spoke on behalf of Ruskin College urging Councillors to ask for an amendment putting them back in.

There was, in fact, an amendment to that effect, moved by Stuart Craft (Independent Working Class Association) and seconded by David Williams, leader of the Green Party (who represents the area around Iffley Fields). Stuart's argument was on the basis of the need for housing in any space available, while the Green leader quoted Prof. Mullender’s dismissive 'two soggy fields' and agreed to second the amendment despite claiming to be in two minds about the proposal.

The amendment was overwhelmingly defeated and the Ruskin fields have therefore been excluded from the development proposals going forward in the Draft Submission.

However, Ruskin may choose at the next stage of the process to press for their site to be included by the Inspector.

The Ruskin Fields Group continue to be vigilant; the six-week consultation on the next stage of the Barton development runs until March 23rd, and we are keen to learn what Ruskin's intentions may be. The RFG will be submitting comments supporting the Council's decision to omit their development proposals from the Draft Submission document and the Sites and Housing DPD.