The organiser of the 'Save Bertie Park' campaign has criticised the council for carrying out “invasive” and “noisy” investigation works at the Oxford recreation grounds.
The site has been earmarked for development since 2013 and the council plans to build 31 low carbon homes despite local opposition.
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Members of the ‘Save Bertie Park’ campaign have previously told the Oxford Mail that the popular recreation ground was a ‘lifeline’ for families who live in the flats nearby.
Kaddy Beck, the campaign’s organiser, has said investigation works have started at the site and these have been both “really noisy” and “very invasive”.
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Ms Beck said: “People have gone down with a picnic prepared and have had to leave.”
Ms Beck said she was confused as to why these works were taking place when the planning application had not yet been approved.
She said: “I’m personally concerned about these works being a waste of taxpayers’ money as normally investigations are done before you submit the planning application.
“We are paying for these investigations before we know whether they are needed or not.”
When asked why she was against social housing being built, Ms Beck said the campaign was all for new affordable housing but believed it was “wrong to pit social housing against recreation”.
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She said: “We are against the plans but not against any plans to build affordable housing.
“There are 86 other recreation grounds in Oxford, and this is the only one which they have said it is necessary to build on.”
The city council clarified that campaigners against the development were informed about the investigations taking place in advance.
Oxford city councillor and cabinet member for housing Linda Smith said: “Building on former landfill sites often needs specialist work for issues like ground quality and contamination.
“Contractors are carrying out investigations to determine what will be needed at Bertie Place as this will be part of the planning conditions if planning permission is granted.
“The survey work involves drilling a series of holes across the site.
“These are protected with fencing and will be made good when completed.
“We apologise for the inconvenience caused.”
Ms Smith said affordable housing was desperately needed as Oxford is among the least affordable places to live in the UK.
Out of the 31 homes which the council hopes to get permission to build, 22 of these will be let out as council homes and nine will be sold for shared ownership.
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The council homes will include 10 three-bed houses, 10 one-bed flats and a couple of two-bed flats.
The shared ownership homes will also be two-bed houses.
If planning permission is granted then work could start on the new homes in late 2023.
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