International Brigade Memorial Trust
Colin Carritt writes…
Oxford City Council's West Area Planning Committee met on 21 February and approved the application for the International Brigade Memorial at South Parks, St Clements, Oxford. This is a great step forward and the Oxfordshire International Brigade Memorial Committee would like to thank supporters who lobbied for us, who sent in letters of support, who raised funds and raised our profile. Your support has been critical. Thanks also to many of the city councillors who rallied to our side yesterday evening despite some uncalled for attacks on the integrity of the Brigades by a handful of objectors.
So it's mostly good news. But it wasn't an overwhelming vote of support. Unfortunately, probably for good reasons, there were some key councillors absent, and there were objections from the Oxford Preservation Trust and some with political/religious objections, and in the end the vote was 5 for the proposals and 3 against. There are a few minor conditions though nothing to concern us, except for the outside possibility that the decision will be 'called in'. Apparently this can occur if 12 councillors (from the total of 48) ask for this to be done. It then has to go to a second committee for ratification or reversal. They have, I think, a couple of weeks to come up with the 12 names and even if they do we believe that the approval is likely to be upheld.
Other news
There are still tickets available for the Dinner at Mezetto, in Walton Street Oxford on Tuesday 28 March.
Professor Valentine Cunningham will be our key speaker and we expect to be able to continue to celebrate our successful planning application. Please note that the meal is a typical Mediterranean "tapas" menu with a selection of dishes available and a dessert. Please come along. It will be a good evening.
Raffle tickets will be available at the dinner to raise the final cash we need to install our memorial. If you would like tickets and can't get to Mezetto, email John Haywood at ajhaywood92@gmail.com (or just reply to this email) and give us your address so we can send you tickets. There are lots of good prizes on offer (detailed in our last newsletter).
And finally, a plug for a local band who have supported our campaign through thick and thin. Ran Kan Kan are a fantastic 20 strong horns, rhythm and vocals band bringing Cuban and Latin music to Oxford. On Saturday 18th March 8:00pm til midnight, they will be at The Old Fire Station, George St., Oxford. They will have with them special guest Lakuta, a vibrant Brighton 8-piece band playing afrobeat, infused with Latin rhythms, funk & soul. Not to be missed.
Posted on 24 February 2017.
