James Hobbs has written a letter about the results of the parish council poll on Oxford United's move to The Triangle in Kidlington.
I am writing in response to the poll in Kidlington on the question ‘Should Kidlington Parish Council support the building of a stadium for Oxford United Football Club in Kidlington?’
The results of the poll were called last night. The results speak for themselves.
Whilst those opposed to the development will claim victory, the fact of the matter is that less than 21 per cent of the electorate were concerned enough to vote ‘no’.
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The ‘winner’ here was not them but those who chose not to vote - 70 per cent in total.
I cannot speak for them or their reasons for not voting, but does this not illustrate that the residents of Kidlington are ambivalent about the project most of all?
With 10 per cent actively voting in support of it, 80 per cent of the electorate either support the project or don’t have an opinion either way.
This was a chance for anti-stadium opponents to bloody the nose of Oxford United and they have categorically failed.
This controversial poll was prematurely called, as stated by Kidlington Parish Council (KPC) leader David Robey, prior to any full and detailed plans from OUFC on the stadium had been issued.
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The poll is non-binding and only Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council will have the say on whether the development and the plans for it will go ahead.
The poll has cost KPC £7,000 or approximately £2.32 per vote cast.
Overall, it has been revealed to be a colossal waste of time and precious KPC resources for something with no outcome that has backfired on the proposers of it massively.
Perhaps those who called it can think of better and less wasteful methods to engage with the stadium project in the future
James Hobbs
Oxford
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