Capital Shopping Centres and the City Council are proposing to turn Oxpens Recreation Ground (next to the ice-rink) into a 900 space temporary car park for 18 months, in order to facilitate the massive expansion of the Westgate Shopping Centre.

The planning application will come to the Central, South and West Area Committee on Tuesday November 13th (St Matthews Parish Centre, Marlborough Road, 5.30 pm) - approval will lead to a large tract of the Recreation Ground becoming a car-park/shopmobility centre while the Westgate triples in size and a new carpark is built on the current site of Abbey Place sheltered housing.