Threat to Views of Oxford's Dreaming Spires

Oxford is a city beloved by tourists from all over the world. It's fun to wander through the ancient colleges, to visit the world famous Bodleian Library and to stroll around Christ Church Meadow and the University Parks. Or if you go further afield, you can admire the ancient university with its spires and towers from Boar's Hill or many other rural vantage points, uncluttered by endless suburbs blocking the view. The impression is one of quiet grandeur, and of scenery largely unchanged since students first came here in around the 11th century.

Why bring all this to your attention just now? Unfortunately none of the appeal of Oxford to generations of tourists (and residents and students of course) comes without constant monitoring by local citizens ensuring that developers don't breach the planning rules These include limits to building heights and no building in the Green Belt which surrounds the city. Several projects which threatened the historic views of the city have been defeated in the past, such as the plan by the Bodleian to put an enormous bookstore in Osney. Now here is another one.....

You may have noticed the leading article in a recent Oxford Times which revealed that at last, after large public protests, an independent enquiry is to be held into the controversial decision by the City Council to allow Oxford University to build a row of very large blocks of flats near the train station. These buildings, which are to house the ever increasing numbers of graduate students, are now nearing completion. They are enormous and dominate the skyline on the west of the city. Not only are they blocking the views of the dreaming spires from Port Meadow, they are also making the rural walk around the Meadow, e.g. to the Trout, distinctly less pleasant: instead of unspoilt countryside: you look back on large blocks more at home in the former Eastern Europe than in the English speaking world's oldest university.

The story won't go away - it's the lead once again in this week's Oxford Times under the heading 'Action on Castle Mill'. Both the university and the Council now seem to admit that a terrible mistake has been made...so what can we do about it? Well, firstly you can join thousands who have already done so and sign the form 'Campaign to save Port Meadow', or secondly click on the image below and vote for Castle Mill as the worst development of the year. (It's already leading!) Go to it!