Petition for multi-storey car park at John Radcliffe Hospital
30th July
Former councillor not giving up on hospital multi-storey car park plans
The John Radcliffe Hospital
A FORMER councillor is not giving up on his plans to build a multi-storey car park at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
Mick Haines, who was an Independent city councillor for the Marston ward for 10 years, has garnered more than 6,000 signatures across two petitions.
At a city council meeting in February, Mr Haines saw the proposals hit a stumbling block – but the former councillor says he hasn’t given up his mission.
After gathering 4,947 signatures online, with a further 1,431 signing a paper version, Mr Haines continues to push ahead with the notion of a multi-storey car park.
He told the Oxford Mail: “It’s crucial we get this because the parking up there is awful.
“It’s ridiculous if you’re trying to get parked, and it’s getting worse.
“Loads of people have suffered from not being able to find a parking space, and everyone says this is a good idea – even the doctors up there.
“It’s important to let people know I haven’t given up.
“This is the latest step. When I was a councillor, I had loads of people saying they were suffering.
“They all agree that it’s something that needs to be done and that it’s a good idea.
“The next step is to push and get more signatures, and then if I can get more, I can take this to Downing Street.”
Mr Haines’ online petition – via change.org – states: “The current provision of parking spaces at the John Radcliffe Hospital is not fit for purpose, patients currently queue regularly in excess of one hour just to park, often missing appointments.
“More parking spaces built on the current parking footprint will free up roads and enable better access for patients.”
In February, the calls were put aside by Oxford City Council, in order to focus on alternative solutions.
At a meeting, Mr Haines called on the council to work with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust ‘as a matter of urgency’ to help sustainable transport to the hospital, and car parking capacity.
Labour councillor for the Carfax and Jericho ward, Alex Hollingsworth, proposed an amendment to Mr Haines’ motion, scrapping the idea of a multi-storey car park.
Instead, Mr Hollingsworth proposed working with both the hospital trust and Oxfordshire County Council to introduce sustainability measures such as shuttle buses that can bring patients and staff to the site.
In May, Mr Haines told this newspaper he would be standing for his seat again once fully recovered from a serious accident which saw him break his hip and pelvis.
This story was written by Liam Rice, he joined the team in 2019 as a multimedia reporter.
Liam covers politics, travel and transport. He occasionally covers Oxford United.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Liam.rice@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailLiamRice
Oxford protestors against number of houses being built
5th July
Protestors against the perceived overdevelopment in the Marston area.
Protestors against the perceived overdevelopment in the Marston area. Picture: Skye Denno
Former city councillor in the Marston ward, Mick Haines, condemned the number of housing estates being developed.
He said: “We had a good turnout for the protest – there was a lot of people there.
“It’s a big issue for the village, people are really up in arms on this one.
“I know people need houses but it’s too much in one area.
“If it was spread out, it’d be understandable but it’s all in one area.”
Mr Haines said that sewage concerns were his key priority with the Butts Lane proposals.
“I’m worried mainly about flooding as it does flood regularly,” the former councillor said.
“People say there was some raw sewage in their gardens just the other week.
“Butts Lane is so narrow, so to get lorries down there is going to be difficult too.
“There’s also the wildlife in the area, which people are really worried about.
“At the caravan site, you get kiddies playing but you’re going to have lorries going regularly down there for the construction.”
Skye Denno, vicar at St Nicholas Church in Old Marston, said: “My main concern is that there’s a group of people I care for, who are being overlooked.
“It feels like from a local perspective that we don’t know what’s going on.
“There’s a feeling from my perspective that people aren’t being treated fairly, or had the consultation that other applications have had.
“I’ve helped organise these protests, hoping that we might get interest from the public and local councils.
“It’s important for me to get involved, even if I didn’t agree, as I don’t think people have been treated fairly.
“There’s concern about the lane – it’s very narrow – and there’s environmental concerns as well, it’s a green area.”
Dave Fisher, who lives at the St Nicholas Mobile Home Park, said: “My main concern is the safety point of view – I want it to be safe.
“Butts Lane is so narrow, you can only just about squeeze a fire engine down there.
“It’s a single lane just wide enough to get a car through – there’s no room for cyclists, pedestrians or wheelchair access.”
Former Oxford councillor Mick Haines will stand for election again
10th May
Mick Haines in January 2017. Picture: Damian Halliwell
A COUNCILLOR of 10 years says he will be standing again – as soon as he recovers from a serious accident which saw him break his hip and pelvis.
Mick Haines didn’t stand to retain his Marston ward seat following the accident six months ago, with the Green Party’s Al Morris swooping in.
However, 81-year-old Mr Haines – who was first elected in May 2012 – told this newspaper he intends to stand again as a councillor once he’s recovered from his injuries.
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“Back in November, I had a bad accident and fell backwards down the stairs – I broke my pelvis, hip, wrist, shoulder and elbow,” he said.
“I’m still recovering from all that now, and I’ve been relying on my family to help me out.
“It would’ve been very difficult to go out knocking on doors, talking to voters.”
Mr Haines, who was a scaffolder between 1962 and 2010, added: “People have already asked if I’ll be standing again – a lot of my voters didn’t turn out for the recent election.
“I won’t be giving up. In the future, I’ll be going as a councillor again because people want me to.
“They’ve told me I’ll need to go again and that I’ve got a good backing – there’s gratitude for the work I’ve done for Marston over the years.”
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Mr Haines reflected on how he first got involved in local politics, saying: “In 2003, I was told they were going to take away the play area at Croft Road recreation ground – I said it wasn’t fair to the kids so I got a petition going, and that’s what started me off.
“I got elected for the first time in 2012, it was really fantastic as I’d been fighting previous times and knew I could do a lot more for the people.
“What I’m really proud of is getting the play area sorted with a new zipwire, and a plaque in memory of the people of Marston who died in the Second World War.