ROYAL VISIT: Port Meadow campaigners celebrate as they hand document to Prince (From The Oxford Times)
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ROYAL VISIT: Port Meadow campaigners celebrate as they hand document to Prince
10:00am Tuesday 5th February 2013 in News
By Katriona Ormiston, Reporter. Call me on (01865) 425426
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Campaigners against Oxford University’s new students blocks off Port Meadow were delighted to be able to hand a letter to Prince Charles’ aide. Picture: OX57173 David Fleming
PROTESTERS are hoping to have won Prince Charles’ support for their campaign yesterday.
He accepted a letter urging his intervention to dismantle the top two storeys of Oxford University’s new student blocks off Port Meadow to save Oxford’s historic views.
The group of 30 people from the Campaign to Protect Port Meadow from Oxford University (CPPMOU) gathered in front of Said Business School in Park End Street ahead of his visit.
Prince Charles’ aide accepted the letter from them.
Campaign organiser Toby Porter said: “I don’t expect His Royal Highness to rush to add his signature to the petition we have.
“But we were trying to bring his attention to the issue and appeal to his keen interest in architecture.
“This is the kind of thing he has spoken out against all his life.
“If he reacts in the same way almost everyone else does we are hoping he might ask the university to be more responsive.”
Said Business School is only a few hundred yards away from the 312-bedroomed development.
Mr Porter, from Jericho, is hoping this will be the turning point in their efforts.
The 43-year-old added: “It is a detested eyesore and we want his knowing about it to trigger his concerns too.
“It was just too good an opportunity to miss with his being in Oxford and interests in good architecture.
“We are hoping he might ask the university’s chancellor Lord Chris Patten about the issues and that he will have more luck than we have had.”
A petition against the blocks reached 2,000 signatures on Sunday.
Oxford University spokesman Matt Pickles declined to comment on the letter.
It issued a previous statement which acknowledged the controversy caused by the development and said the university had acted in good faith.
Clarence House also refused to comment on what might be done next with the letter.
Comments(4)
cloudy22
says...
10:35pm Tue 5 Feb 13
Andrew:Oxford
says...
2:08pm Wed 6 Feb 13
cloudy22 wrote:There are 22 legs visible in the picture if that helps. That does only add up to 11 people though.
Grunden Skip - If you READ the article it was more than 20.... Also you are incorrect that 'petitions these days are worthless'. Why do you think the Government U-turned on the Public Forest Estate sell off!! 38 degrees received 100,000 signatures on a petition!! Please at least THINK about available evidence before making incorrect statements.. However I note you value your thought process at two pennies....over valued me thinks!!
Grunden Skip
says...
4:43pm Wed 6 Feb 13
cloudy22 wrote:Sorry cloudy I was only going by the published photograph. Maybe the other 19 were to embarrassed to be pictured and were only along for the ride. But if you get 100,000 residents of Oxford City to sign your petition, then you may be taken for more than an extremist minority. Personally I find the neglected, dirty, and dishevelled, state of many of the boats that I see from the Baily Bridge far more of an eyesore. But hey whatever floats your boat. I for one am looking forward to a new aspect when enjoying the meadow. P.S. Why did you not protest when the new RED BRICK (totally out of character) houses were built at the wolvecote end of the meadow, maybe you own one of them.
Grunden Skip - If you READ the article it was more than 20.... Also you are incorrect that 'petitions these days are worthless'. Why do you think the Government U-turned on the Public Forest Estate sell off!! 38 degrees received 100,000 signatures on a petition!! Please at least THINK about available evidence before making incorrect statements.. However I note you value your thought process at two pennies....over valued me thinks!!
Grunden Skip says...
1:31pm Tue 5 Feb 13