A VETERAN campaigner in the fight to save Oxford Stadium has called press regulation proposals 'ludicrous' and emphasised the importance of local papers.

There is one day left for members of the public to weigh in on a public consultation run by the Government into whether to enact Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act.

The rule would mean if anyone ever sues a newspaper for libel the newspaper would have to pay all the legal costs, whether it wins or loses - unless signed up to a new regulator, Impress, which is backed by the government and bankrolled by press reform campaigners.

Andy Cooper of the Save Oxford Stadium campaign said: "Having a situation where one party, regardless of the outcome, should have to pay is ludicrous.

"There is a real risk of a total breakdown of accountability, and people who are driven by large sums of money, and pay little regard to anyone else will abuse the system."

Over the years the Oxford Mail has extensively covered efforts to save the former greyhound and Speedway track in Blackbird Leys.

Last February the Mail published an extensive investigation into turnover at Oxford Stadium in the 12 months before it closed, its owners' finances and perceived intentions for the site.

Mr Cooper said: "Without the Oxford Mail how on earth would we know about what's happening at Oxford Stadium, and how the business is being conducted?

"So many things on a local level are very important.

"Without local papers there's an awful lot of things that would not be reported and would not get out there."

We ask that as many readers as possible respond to the consultation by visiting tinyurl.com/zcgnp8y