25 September 2007: For immediate release

Campaigners today expressed dismay at the continued delay in determining whether Radley Lakes should be declared a town green. There is increasing concern that vital committee dates will be missed and that RWE npower could begin to drain Thrupp Lake before the town green case is determined.

Andy Boddington [1] says: "The legal process is proceeding at a snail's pace, apparently operating on a timescale of its own. In the real world, RWE npower have planning permission to destroy Thrupp Lake and are beginning preparatory work. County Council officials have been dragging their feet in getting this report delivered. Their manyana attitude is unacceptable after so many people have put in so much effort into an inquiry of this importance. Does the county council not work to timetables like everyone else?"

Jo Cartmell [2] says: "Everyone is stressed out waiting for this report from the Inspector and there are constant enquiries from local people. We have put almost three years of effort into our campaign to save Radley Lakes and thousands of hours into the town green inquiry. But council officials just say the Inspector's recommendation will be due 'next week'. And when it does not arrive, they say 'next week' again."

Vivian Chapman was appointed Inspector for the town green inquiry, which took place at Radley College in April and July 2007. His recommendation on whether Bullfield and Thrupp Lakes should be awarded town green status was expected in mid-September. But council officials are now suggesting that it will not arrive until at least the end of September. But the campaign to save Radley Lakes is a race against time.

The Inspector's task is to make a recommendation on town green status. That recommendation then needs to be adopted, or rejected, by the Planning & Regulation Committee (PRC) of Oxfordshire County Council. This committee next meets on 15 October. The danger now is that the recommendation will arrive too late for council officers and PRC to properly consider it. The next meeting of PRC is on 26 November. But RWE npower have been steadfast in their refusal to stop work at the Thrupp Lake until a decision on town green status is made.

[1] Andy Boddington. Campaign Manager, Campaign to Protect Rural England Oxfordshire.
[2] Jo Cartmell. Town Green applicant and campaigner for Save Radley Lakes.

Further Information

• Radley Lakes
• A guide to the Radley Lakes controversy in ten uneasy steps