Boatyard fence must go

  20th June 2006

A meeting of Full County Council today (20th June) backed a motion by Green County Councillor Sushila Dhall to improve the appearance of the Jericho Boatyard site following the eviction of boaters by British Waterways (see text below).

FMI: Cllr Sushila Dhall 01865 553415

Motion from Councillor Sushila Dhall

20th June 2006
 
“Where until the end of May this year central Oxford had a 150-year-old historic working boatyard (Castlemill Boatyard) at its heart, now, thanks to the hasty actions of British Waterways, there is a derelict piece of land, surrounded by an 8-foot high fence topped with razor wire and lit by floodlights.
 
Given that the:
 
(a)                 tourist season proper is about to begin;
 
(b)                 boatyard site is on a popular and well-used tourist route;
 
(c)                 appearance of this makes Oxford City Centre, which we have all worked to make attractive, look neglected, uninviting and even fearsome;
 
Council resolves to write to British Waterways asking it to improve the appearance of this site forthwith, for the benefit of residents, visitors and local businesses.”