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'We will fight Westgate plans'
9:19pm Thursday 28th February 2008
More than 70 people opposing plans to redevelop Oxford's Westgate shopping centre, gathered in the city's Town Hall tonight to discuss ways to fight the developers.
The campaign group Oxford against Westgate Redevelopment is looking to target John Lewis, which is planning a store as part of the already-approved £150m development.
Campaigners are planning a mass postal campaign which will see them bombarding the company with postcards. They claim the development will increase the risk of flooding, add to city centre congestion and increase air pollution.
Protesters discussed alternative proposals for the site, including a more environmental-friendly refit of the existing shopping centre.
Jess Worth, from Iffley Road, Oxford, said: "We don't just want to be against the development, but want to get a different kind of development for Oxford."
Bruce Heagerty, who spent three days up a tree in Norfolk Street to protest at the removal of trees, said: "Protesting is great. But coming up with a good idea for the site is even better."
Your Say YourOxford
antihippy, oxford says...
11:51pm Thu 28 Feb 08
K, Oxford says...
1:06am Fri 29 Feb 08
I can't wait for them to build the new Westgate, it's about time that us, the people of Oxford, got something good that wasn't ruined by these vocal idiots.
Alan, Headington says...
5:06am Fri 29 Feb 08
Marie, Oxford says...
8:25am Fri 29 Feb 08
Helen, says...
8:31am Fri 29 Feb 08
Happy Shopper, Oxford says...
8:40am Fri 29 Feb 08
Oford Born and Bred, says...
8:56am Fri 29 Feb 08
Ed, London says...
10:40am Fri 29 Feb 08
Missionary, God's Country says...
11:31am Fri 29 Feb 08
Jesus looked like a hippy too you know. He wore sandals and had a beard. Granted he didn't spend much of his time living in trees and chaining himself to railings but he did get himself nailed to a cross, so that's pretty similar.
Please leave hippys alone. Just because they look a bit unwashed and smell a little, it doesn't give you people the right to mock them, after all they are God's children too you know!
Perhaps if you all went to church a little more you would be more tolerant and loving.
Amen
ciderpunx, Oxford says...
11:38am Fri 29 Feb 08
fight the council, Oxford says...
11:47am Fri 29 Feb 08
Lets gridlock our roads and flood our streets.
Lets give our own land to shop developers on the cheap and subsidise the rich to get richer.
Lets convieniently forget any objection raised by anybody cos we're all too selfish and ignorant to care what happens to our city.
Lets not build something for everyone, lets only use our beautiful city as if it were a shopping mall and not a unique city of history, beautiful architecture and vibrancy.
Lets all be good and do as we're told because the rich are always right.
Lets compete with Reading and turn our city centre into a concrete non-place.
War is Peace, Ignorance is Strength, Shopping is Freedom
Hugh, Sonning Common says...
12:14pm Fri 29 Feb 08
fight the council wrote:Reading is cool!
Well, I for one welcome our new corporate overlords. Lets gridlock our roads and flood our streets. Lets give our own land to shop developers on the cheap and subsidise the rich to get richer. Lets convieniently forget any objection raised by anybody cos we're all too selfish and ignorant to care what happens to our city. Lets not build something for everyone, lets only use our beautiful city as if it were a shopping mall and not a unique city of history, beautiful architecture and vibrancy. Lets all be good and do as we're told because the rich are always right. Lets compete with Reading and turn our city centre into a concrete non-place. War is Peace, Ignorance is Strength, Shopping is Freedom
Crap; but cool!
Parking only £12-00 per day as a bonus!
At least you can wander without being run over by a vehicle; (except a bicycle of course)!
Marie, Oxford says...
1:19pm Fri 29 Feb 08
fight the council, Oxford says...
1:22pm Fri 29 Feb 08
At least you can wander without being run over by a vehicle; (except a bicycle of course)!
With 10,000 extra journeys on a Saturday when the new Westgate gets built Oxford's streets will certainly be safer.
Nothing will be moving.
You'll simply climb over the bonnet of the nearest car to get to the other side.
bill, On the buses says...
1:37pm Fri 29 Feb 08
fight the council wrote:whats the difference now? the roads are gridlocked with buses
At least you can wander without being run over by a vehicle; (except a bicycle of course)!With 10,000 extra journeys on a Saturday when the new Westgate gets built Oxford\'s streets will certainly be safer. Nothing will be moving. You\'ll simply climb over the bonnet of the nearest car to get to the other side.
bob, Oxfordf says...
1:38pm Fri 29 Feb 08
Missionary, God's Country says...
2:51pm Fri 29 Feb 08
bob wrote:Maybe so but then Jesus only started with a small band of disciples as well and now look how the numbers of followers have multiplied! There are even more worshippers at our church than there are supporters at Oxford United now.
70.. Hardly a majority against then. Just wait tho, they will start letter bombing John Lewis like their animal rights colleagues.
The folk who were there last night did not strike me as being the types to become involved in sending letter bombs (well except maybe for the cider drinking punk who commented above) Everyone was very decent, most of us had beards (including many of the ladies)so how could you possibly accuse us of encouraging violence? The only people I know with beards who get involved in violence are Osama Bin Laden, Peter Sutcliffe, Che Guevara, Josef Stalin and Jeremy Beadle.
we were all joined together in a fervent desire to bring peace and harmony, not violence to Oxford.
You are all welcome to join with us in the first stage of direct action this coming Sunday, when we will be holding a "Say NO to Westgate shops but say yes to a Wesgate church" raffle. Come and join our merry band of brothers and make a real difference to your community!
Amen
pedantiscist, up own arse says...
2:58pm Fri 29 Feb 08
The only people I know with beards who get involved in violence are Osama Bin Laden, Peter Sutcliffe, Che Guevara, Josef Stalin and Jeremy Beadle.
Well, technically, Stalin had a moustache.
And you've left out Abraham Lincoln, who was President Of the US during the Civil War.
fight the council, Oxford says...
3:09pm Fri 29 Feb 08
bill wrote:You're right. Getting an extra 5,000 people into the town centre every Saturday won't make things any worse.
fight the council wrote:whats the difference now? the roads are gridlocked with buses
At least you can wander without being run over by a vehicle; (except a bicycle of course)!With 10,000 extra journeys on a Saturday when the new Westgate gets built Oxford\'s streets will certainly be safer. Nothing will be moving. You\'ll simply climb over the bonnet of the nearest car to get to the other side.
Bob, Onthe buses says...
3:52pm Fri 29 Feb 08
Missionary wrote:Im sorry, but I wont be joining you. Religion has caused so many wrongs in the world.. Wars between Muslims, Jews, Hindu's, Cathloics the list goes on.. Religion causes violence. I have one religion, called Me.
bob wrote: 70.. Hardly a majority against then. Just wait tho, they will start letter bombing John Lewis like their animal rights colleagues.Maybe so but then Jesus only started with a small band of disciples as well and now look how the numbers of followers have multiplied! There are even more worshippers at our church than there are supporters at Oxford United now. The folk who were there last night did not strike me as being the types to become involved in sending letter bombs (well except maybe for the cider drinking punk who commented above) Everyone was very decent, most of us had beards (including many of the ladies)so how could you possibly accuse us of encouraging violence? The only people I know with beards who get involved in violence are Osama Bin Laden, Peter Sutcliffe, Che Guevara, Josef Stalin and Jeremy Beadle. we were all joined together in a fervent desire to bring peace and harmony, not violence to Oxford. You are all welcome to join with us in the first stage of direct action this coming Sunday, when we will be holding a "Say NO to Westgate shops but say yes to a Wesgate church" raffle. Come and join our merry band of brothers and make a real difference to your community! Amen
Mr Ison, England says...
4:23pm Fri 29 Feb 08
Robert, Oxford says...
5:14pm Fri 29 Feb 08
I can't believe this, the city centre is as full as it's going to get. John Lewis will only take custom away from Debenhams and Boswells. Anyone with sense (hippie or not) will go for a walk (in Shotover) an buy on the internet. A pity the City is pouring loads of money to prop up retail shareholders.
Missionary, God's Country says...
6:41pm Fri 29 Feb 08
pedantiscist wrote:Not to forget Noel Edmunds as well. I never did trust that man and always believed that his facial hair was just used to disguise the look of a man who was just itching to invade Poland.
The only people I know with beards who get involved in violence are Osama Bin Laden, Peter Sutcliffe, Che Guevara, Josef Stalin and Jeremy Beadle.Well, technically, Stalin had a moustache. And you've left out Abraham Lincoln, who was President Of the US during the Civil War.
Peace be upon you all!
Amen
Joe, Marston Road says...
8:59pm Fri 29 Feb 08
Missionary wrote:The realms of fantasy have been reached.
pedantiscist wrote:Not to forget Noel Edmunds as well. I never did trust that man and always believed that his facial hair was just used to disguise the look of a man who was just itching to invade Poland. Peace be upon you all! AmenThe only people I know with beards who get involved in violence are Osama Bin Laden, Peter Sutcliffe, Che Guevara, Josef Stalin and Jeremy Beadle.Well, technically, Stalin had a moustache. And you\'ve left out Abraham Lincoln, who was President Of the US during the Civil War.
You do not believe that Noel's beard was real!
Mr Blobby and his ex wife say different!
what a nice view, meow says...
10:19pm Fri 29 Feb 08
oxresident, Oxford says...
8:52am Sat 1 Mar 08
stinky students not got anything better to do! TutTut!
Well, I'm an Oxford resident (25 years) and I think that they've got a point. The new car park will destroy views across the city. And there's going to be more congestion on Abingdon Road. Why snipe at who these people are rather than what they say?
alan page, says...
12:37pm Sat 1 Mar 08
poppy, iffley road says...
6:17pm Sun 2 Mar 08
alan page, says...
10:11am Tue 4 Mar 08
poppy wrote:Coming from somebody who was whining that it was unfair that I could use the word "wog" in a non racial contest whilst you couldn't use the term p-ki in the usual context you are truly laughable.
Alan Page talking crap again. Bring on the shops. Get rid of the stinking Westgate. Its about time we got a good shopping centre in Oxford. Brill
I repeat local businessmen in Oxford
are obnoxious racist snobs who deserve to be driven out of business.
poppy, iffley road says...
8:47pm Tue 4 Mar 08
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Terry Chandler, oxford says...
10:39pm Thu 28 Feb 08