Oxford United has been criticised for “wasting the time” of residents and councillors as the club has been told it must resubmit its traffic modelling plan for its proposed new stadium.

The club submitted its fully planning application for a 16,000-capacity ground at The Triangle, south of Kidlington Roundabout last month.

However, Oxfordshire County Council advised the club in the pre-application discussions that a new transport plotting method called the North Oxford VISSIM Model is required to properly map out all the journeys that would be taken around the stadium.

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Access to the model was approved for the club on February 7 but it is not known when the new results will be available.

The club said it “positively welcomed” the decision.

Oxford Mail: The Triangle’ was agreed to be leased by Oxfordshire County Council to Oxford United for its new

An Oxford United statement said: “The club has submitted everything, but more highway modelling will be submitted during the determination period to factor in the impact of the housing allocations that are coming forward around north Oxford.”

Suzanne McIvor, on behalf of the Friends of Stratfield Brake (FoSB), representing opposition to the proposed site, said:  “FoSB is extremely concerned that local residents are wasting their time reading the long transport assessments which currently form part of the planning application but will need to be revised once the results of the correct traffic model are known."

Ms McIvor added that FoSB has written to councillors, the leader of the county council, and MP Layla Moran to demand the current transport assessments be removed from the Cherwell District Council planning portal.  

Oxford Mail:

She said: “We think it is very wrong of Oxford United to waste the time of parish councillors, community groups such as FoSB and individual local residents who work voluntarily on behalf of their communities by submitting erroneous information."

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New bus stops, shuttle bus services and traffic diversions are among the actions being considered at the proposed new stadium.

Planning documents state Oxford United are working with Oxford Bus Company, Stagecoach, Chiltern Railways and Oxfordshire County Council in order to offer an “integrated public transport ticket in the cost of a season ticket and match day tickets”.

The club has confirmed it is undertaking a planning application process to build a bridge from Oxford Parkway over Oxford Road, to provide direct access from the railway station towards the stadium.

It comes as Oxfordshire County Council leader Liz Leffman has written to the four parishes of Kidlington, Water Eaton, Begbroke and Yarnton to assure them support would not be given to any proposal that included the closure of the Oxford Road on matchdays. 

Oxford Mail:

The U's have previously stated it is pushing for 90 per cent of fans to travel to The Triangle by sustainable modes.

Victoria Campbell, another representative of the FoSB and a Kidlington resident, added: “Oxford United’s target for 90 per cent of fans to travel by sustainable means is highly aspirational with limited detail in the planning application to demonstrate how this will be achieved.

“Yet, much has been included to describe car and vehicle movements around the stadium which calls into question the credibility of statements on sustainable travel targets."

Oxford Mail: Oxford United have published new images of what the club’s proposed stadium at The Triangle could

Development director at Oxford United, Jonathan Clarke said: “We have undertaken surveys during evenings, weekdays and weekends which have been, and will be, used as part of the updated transport modelling.

“Oxfordshire County Council Highways has now requested that we test the proposals using the North Oxford VISSIM model, a move we positively welcomed.

“It will enhance our existing model and strategy to make things even stronger and we await access to complete this additional work.

“Our submission complies with all conditions.

“We remain focused on delivering a world-class venue that will not only become the long-term home of Oxford United but will deliver significant benefits to the Oxfordshire community and economy.”