A BIDDER for Oxford Stadium has threatened to walk away if the owners do not make a decision about its future soon.

Robert Tyrrell says he has now submitted four bids for the Sandy Lane stadium and has become frustrated by the whole process.

Owner GRA Acquisition Ltd put the stadium on the market and told bidders to submit their offers by June 9.

But four months later, Mr Tyrrell says he is none the wiser about whether his bid has been successful.

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The Steventon-based farmer said: “That’s four times I have bid for the stadium now and they are just messing me about. I won’t wait much longer.

“I have tried and tried but we don’t get anywhere with them. It has been a nightmare. I think we will have to walk away.”

Mr Tyrrell expressed concern that the stadium would fall into a state of disrepair if it continues to remain unused, and would need more time and money to bring it back into use.

GRA Acquisition has taken Oxford City Council to a judicial review after it agreed to designate the stadium as a conservation area, which prevents the site from being redeveloped.

Earlier this year, the council refused planning permission to demolish the stadium and build 220 homes on the site.

A hearing on the judicial review is expected to take place at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on December 8.

City council leader Bob Price said: “We know Mr Tyrrell has made a very good offer to the owners that would bring back greyhound racing and speedway.

“The developers told us they would make a decision on the offers they had received by the early part of August. They now seem to be sitting on those offers and waiting for the judicial review hearing. It’s very disappointing.”

After the planning permission for homes was turned down in January, developer Galliard appealed and an inquiry was due to be held last month.

But the developer withdrew the appeal and asked for bids to buy or lease the stadium.

Galliard, which shares a director – Donagh O’Sullivan – with GRA Acquisition, declined to comment while CBRE, the agent handling the marketing of the stadium for its owner, did not respond when asked for comment on the issue.

TIMELINE

  • Dec 29, 2012 – Oxford Stadium closes
  • Feb 2013 – Entrepreneur Paschal Taggart offers to buy the stadium
  • April 2013 – Galliard submits an application to demolish it and replace it with 220 homes
  • July 2013 – Oxford City Council lists the stadium on its heritage asset register
  • Sept 2013 – Professional gambler Harry Findlay throws his hat in the ring
  • Jan 5, 2014 – Bid for the demolition is refused
  • Feb 2014 – Galliard appeals against the decision
  • March 2014 – Robert Tyrrell attempts to buy the stadium
  • April 2014 – The city council designates it as a conservation area, giving it further protection against demolition
  • May 9 – Galliard advertises the lease of the stadium and withdraws its appeal
  • June 10 – Deadline for bids ends and owner GRA Acquisition launches judicial review against designation as conservation area
  • Aug 2014 – It is announced a judicial review hearing will take place at the Royal Courts of Justice on December 8.

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