JR to go ahead over town green status of park in swimming pool battle

A High Court judge has given campaigners permission to bring judicial review proceedings over a county council’s refusal to grant town green status to land next to a leisure centre.

The legal challenge to Oxfordshire CC’s decision relates to land in Blackbird Leys Park on which Oxford City Council hopes to build an eight-lane swimming pool.

At issue is whether local residents used the park as of right or by right.

The Oxford Mail reports that the two local authorities argued that the land was made available to the public as a park through legislation such as the Public Health Act 1875 and was therefore used by right.

The High Court is expected to hear the case next month.