Oxford Mail readers have been reacting to the news Oxford United could abandon the Kassam Stadium for a new ground near Kidlington.

It emerged yesterday that the club has been considering a switch from the Grenoble Road stadium to a new stadium at Stratfield Brake.

The club moved from the Manor Ground to the Kassam Stadium in 2001.

To secure the club’s long-term future. United signed a 25-year lease when they moved to the Kassam Stadium in 2001 and that agreement ends in 2026.

Stratfield Brake is a short walk from Oxford Parkway rail station and Park & Ride and this is a key reason why it is the preferred site.

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The club is keen for the stadium to be environmentally sustainable and it is hoped the accessible location will increase the number of fans attending games via public transport. The Kassam Stadium, on the other hand, is more than four miles from the nearest train station.

Readers have been reacting on the Oxford Mail Facebook page and on oxfordmail.co.uk.

SAM MCALLISTER: “Hope it’s built with a bit of character like Brentford’s stadium and not one of those bog standard domes most teams build.”

NEIL EARL: “This would be great for me travelling down from Banbury.”

ASIM HAYAT: “Will it have four stands or they sticking with three? Asking for a friend.”

DAVE TWEDDLE: “Such a great idea, with the go ahead of around 4,000 new homes being built in Kidlington, Begbroke and Yarnton, all the extra traffic is gonna make things even better. I can see the plus sides of it though.”

CAROL KEEN: “That’s close to home - it’s close to train station.”

OXFORD MAIL READER: “I wouldn’t get too excited yet. There is a huge difference between a proposal to lease some land, and actually getting permission to start building on it.”

OXFORD MAIL READER: “Presumably this includes the nature reserve (a Woodland Trust area)? In which case this is outrageous (to put it politely).”

OXFORD MAIL READER: “The nature reserve is behind the actual Stratfield Brake site I believe. For all we know at the moment, some investment may be put in to improve the reserve, rather than damage it.”

OXFORD MAIL READER: “The villages of Kidlington, Yarnton, Begbroke, Gosford, and Water Eaton have just lost 220 hectares of Green Belt land to development. It would be nice to be left with some.”

OXFORD MAIL READER: “The whole area around the station is going to be developed. It’s a matter of when, not if.”

OXFORD MAIL READER: “Being a Yarnton resident, I knew there was no point voicing concerns about the housing developments there.

“When suppliers are already being spoken to with regard to ground work and materials, you know it’s happening whether I like it or not. I know quite a few details about plans for the Parkway station area.”

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OXFORD MAIL READER: “Let’s hope this gets the go ahead. Good location for it. Hopefully the development will benefit the local area and community.”

OXFORD MAIL READER: “The Kidlington area is already Oxfords dumping ground.”

OXFORD MAIL READER: “Let the hand-wringing commence. Won’t somebody think of the voles. Or moles. Or some other wee beastie that will inevitably DIE at the hands of OUFC if they’re allowed to get away with it. Down with this sort of thing!”

OXFORD MAIL READER: “Terrible location. Miles out of town and totally unwalkable. And what happens to all the people who currently use the sports grounds there?”

OXFORD MAIL READER: “And where exactly in town can you think of that something like this could be built!? Only so many people are going to be able to walk to a stadium wherever it is built.”

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OXFORD MAIL READER: “Build it on the Oxford golf course. Oxford North golf course is being concreted to make way for ‘Oxford’s unmet housing need’ so perhaps the city can keep their ‘needs’ within their city limits - just for once.”

OXFORD MAIL READER: “Who walks 3.6 miles from the centre of Oxford to football?”

OXFORD MAIL READER: “Just don’t go shopping to Sainsburys on Match days or to anywhere in Kidlington.”

OXFORD MAIL READER: “There are serious issues with this - from traffic, to drainage, to environmental impact.”