Eighty per cent of people have given their backing to the new deal over Oxford United's stadium, writes Rebecca Smith.

In a phone poll of residents by the city council, just six per cent turned down flat a deal that would see United owner Firoz Kassam given land for a leisure and cinema complex in return for completing Minchery Farm.

Oxford United - more than the city's universities or any other institution - has the potential to unify the entire community. That's the message to the football club from the city's leaders after residents and United fans overwhelmingly backed plans in a telephone poll for a new stadium at Minchery Farm, Littlemore.

City councillor Catherine Hodgkinson said last night: "Oxford United is an important part of our community, supported by old and young, employed and unemployed, male and female.

"It probably has a greater potential for unifying the city of Oxford across class, gender and racial boundaries, than any other city institution. "If we want to see Oxford United survive and, let us hope, thrive, we have to support this plan."

People living closest to the planned development, in Blackbird Leys and Littlemore, were among those shouting loudest - with 86 per cent in favour of it.

In total, 91 per cent of United fans saw the club's future at the new site.

Council leader John Tanner said the fact that 80 per cent of people canvassed had backed the stadium and leisure development should encourage the council to go ahead with the deal. The council would make a final decision in June, once a deal had been agreed with United's new owner Mr Firoz Kassam.

It has already received an assurance from him that football will be played at Minchery Farm for at least 25 years and it expects the stadium to be finished by next year.

The project, however, may hinge on whether planning permission for a multiplex cinema, as part of the new leisure complex next to the stadium, is granted.

Mr Kassam voiced his concern about the cinema at a public meeting in Blackbird Leys last Friday. Today, he told the Oxford Mail: "Although there are still a few more obstacles to come across, especially the multiplex, I will keep my fingers crossed and hope it all works out."

Plans to move United from the dilapidated Manor Ground in Headington have been put forward for decades - but have previously all foundered.

Supporters believe the new deal will herald a fresh start for the club.

Apart from securing the club's future, ideas such as developing women's football will come hand-in-hand with the stadium. The poll showed that 602 Oxford residents aged over 16 years - 80 per cent of those polled - were in favour of the development.

A separate poll of 515 city residents asked about leisure developments in Oxford. More than half wanted to see a ten-pin bowling alley and 43 per cent wanted a swimming pool with slides. Thirty-five per cent backed the multiplex idea.

*A second public meeting will be held at Peers School, Sandy Lane West, Littlemore, tonight at 7.30pm.

Story date: Tuesday 20 April

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