Westgate protester backs tree campaigners

9:05am Sunday 20th January 2008

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A MAN battling the £330m redevelopment of the Westgate Centre, Oxford, has backed protesters who fought the removal of trees lining Westgate car park.

However, Vincent McKeown, 52, who lives in a flat in Abbey Place, has since seen part of his garden wall disappear as work on site continues.

Last year, Mr McKeown, who can only communicate by blinking, lost a High Court battle for a judicial review of the council's decision to grant planning permission for the extension of the Westgate Centre.

Planning permission has been granted, but the result of a public inquiry into the proposed compulsory purchase of 14 sheltered flats in Abbey Place is due next month.

The car park cannot be knocked down until the result of the inquiry is known.

A four-week archaeological survey is now under way, part of which has seen walls - including part of Mr McKeown's - knocked down.

Westgate development spokesman Simon Ward said: "Oxford Archaeology will be carrying out investigations in the communal gardens of Abbey Place.

"These pre-commencement works, which are an extension of the recent works at Abbey Place car park, will last for about four weeks.

"As part of these works, sections of the rear wall of Abbey Place have been removed in order to allow access.

"On completion of the works both the wall and garden areas will be restored.

"Residents have been fully informed about the works."

Christian Pattison, Mr McKeown's carer, said the council was "jumping the gun" at the Westgate site because the public inquiry decision had not yet been made.

He added: "Vincent and I sympathise with protesters because we feel that chopping down these trees is all part of the council trying to force people to leave Abbey Place.

"For a while there have been archaeological digs and workmen doing investigations around here and we feel it is still too early to be carrying out this kind of work.

"We are now waiting for the result of the CPO inquiry and, depending on the result, Vincent could launch another legal challenge."

A city council spokesman said: "As part of these works, certain trees needed to be felled in continuation of the archaeological investigation that was started before Christmas on the surface level car parks at Abbey Place and Westgate.

"The Westgate development has received full planning permission.

"Therefore, there is no planning basis to resist the felling. None of these trees are subject to a preservation order.

"The council is fully committed to protecting trees in Oxford and replacement of trees lost due to development."