The boatyard in Jericho has sat empty for over 20 years, leaving hundreds of local boaters without the facilities needed to repair the boats that are their homes. Plans for a new community centre building have also been stalled.
For the last year Oxford City Council has been trying to get the current owner to develop the site. But despite promises there has been no action. Patience is running out for local people, the Jericho Wharf Trust, and the City Council.
These efforts now mean that a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) has a chance to succeed. A CPO is a legal action to shift ownership to someone who will deliver this long-awaited regeneration scheme.
Local resident and City Councillor Alex Hollingsworth says: “This space is vital for our community in Jericho and beyond, especially up and down the canal and the rivers where so many of our friends and neighbours live.”
“The City Council has had to go through this last 12 months of dialogue to make sure that a CPO has the best chance of success. I’ve been working closely with the Jericho Wharf Trust during that time to make sure all the necessary steps are followed.”
“The CPO is an absolute last resort, but it’s one that’s now a real option if Jericho needs it to happen.”
