Reaction as Oxford United leased 'The Triangle' land

Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet voted to lease ‘The Triangle’, east of Frieze Way and south of Kidlington Roundabout, to United at a meeting yesterday (Tuesday, September 19).

While not the final step for the club, which still needs planning permission from Cherwell District Council, the decision is significant in its bid for a new stadium.

READ MORE: Council dismisses alternative plan for proposed site of Oxford United stadium

Council leader Liz Leffman said: “A key factor for the cabinet in reaching this decision has been to bring long-term benefit to communities in Oxfordshire.

"We believe the new stadium has the potential to do this by providing local employment, education opportunities for our young people, much improved facilities for local sports groups, and securing the future of county’s only professional football league club, which has such a positive impact on many people’s lives."

A heavily packed meeting room heard comments from councillors and speakers for almost four hours before the final decision was made, upon which a sigh of relief went up from many who had gathered for the meeting at County Hall.

Paul Peros, chairman of Oxford United’s supporters trust OxVox, and other supporters of the move celebrated the decision with a drink at a nearby pub.

Mr Peros said: “It’s fantastic news. This is just the first step in a long process but it’s a very big step and it’s a big hurdle that we have crossed.”

But it was not all plain sailing.

The cabinet opted to lease to United, amending a recommendation from council officers that the land should be sold.

In practice, it means the authority is now a de-facto landlord to the club.

As such, it imposed several conditions on the club for the lease, and said it “will not sign” off the deal if they were not upheld.

This included conditions that the club must produce a detailed net-zero plan, and it put in place a restrictive covenants that the land should used almost entirely for football/community sports and leisure/sports stadia.

Asked about the switch to a lease, Mr Peros said he was just happy the decision had got across the line.

“As far as we’re concerned, it works either way,” he said. “Having a lease in place offers the club a bit more protection - as long as it’s done right.”

But the Friends of Stratfield Brake, a campaign group opposed to the stadium plans, raised concerns over the lease decision.

A statement said: "We are concerned that future decisions on this have been delegated to individual cabinet members instead of undergoing further scrutiny in full cabinet."