THE majority of people who completed a survey on Oxford United’s new stadium plans believe information provided by the club addresses environmental challenges.
The U’s are looking to build a new ground at The Triangle, south of Kidlington Roundabout, with the club’s licence agreement at the Kassam Stadium running out in 2026.
A new report reveals the results of a second phase of engagement undertaken by Oxfordshire County Council.
The six-week long engagement exercise saw 5,441 people respond to a survey between June 9 and July 23, while five public exhibitions were held between June 24 and July 20. Those events saw 293 attendees.
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The new report, published by the county council, analyses comments received on the extent to which United’s proposal addresses seven strategic priorities – including maintaining a green barrier between Oxford and Kidlington, significantly improving the infrastructure connectivity and developing local employment opportunities in Oxfordshire.
On that first strategic priority, most people who responded to the survey think that the information provided by the U’s has fully/mostly addressed the priority (64 per cent).
Furthermore, a majority of residents living outside a two-mile radius of The Triangle said that United have fully/mostly addressed the priority (90 per cent), as do members of the public living outside Oxfordshire (94 per cent).
With regards to ‘improving public access to high-quality nature and green space’, most people responded to the survey believed that the information provided by the club has fully/mostly addressed that priority (65 per cent).
Just over a third think that the U’s have partially or not addressed the priority (34 per cent).
Nine out of ten people living outside the two-mile radius of The Triangle said that United have fully addressed the priority (91 per cent), as do a vast majority of members of the public living outside Oxfordshire (96 per cent).
Those who took part in the public engagement were asked if they had any further comments about the proposals.
The key themes people discussed were: positive comments, support, a very good proposal addressing all concerns, a good opportunity/potential for the immediate community and for Oxfordshire (18 per cent); traffic and congestion concerns (11 per cent); loss of green belt and the areas of nature (nine per cent).
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The new report will be mulled over by a meeting of the county council’s place overview and scrutiny committee on September 13.
Six days later, the local authority’s cabinet is set to decide whether or not to lease or sell land at The Triangle to the U’s.
Planning permission for a new stadium would however be required from Cherwell District Council, as the local planning authority.
The county council’s chief executive, Martin Reeves, said: “Our engagement with the public and stakeholders during both 2022 and 2023 has been extensive and thorough.
“Many people have attended meetings or responded online and the feedback has been collated for the place overview and scrutiny committee to consider and pass on their recommendations to cabinet.
“The feedback received from the engagement will be used alongside a range of other detailed information to help inform cabinet when they come to make this important decision on September 19.”
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