Oxford United moving to a new stadium in Kidlington would “re-integrate” the club at the heart of the community and may be used by the England women’s team in the future, a county councillor has said.
With Oxford United’s future home uncertain as the club continues to engage with the county council over a potential stadium move to an area of land known as the ‘Triangle’, county and Conservative councillor Arash Fatemian has called on people to embrace the “opportunities” the construction of a new stadium would bring.
The move to an area of land east of Frieze Way and south of Kidlington Roundabout has provoked strong criticism from environmental campaigners and the campaign group Friends of Stratfield Break, which has since challenged the county council’s consultation as “unlawful”.
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An initial judicial review pre-action letter was sent on behalf of the campaign group by the law firm Leigh Day and this legal challenge has been funded by “donations from generous residents” according to Friends of Stratfield Break.
Despite the council’s public consultation attracting controversy due to respondents outside of Oxfordshire being allowed to contribute, Mr Fatemian has said the “employment opportunities” the stadium move will create should not be forgotten.
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Mr Fatemian said: “This is once again an opportunity to re-integrate the football club at the heart of the community like it used to be at the Old Manor Ground with people gathering with friends, parents and children before heading to the ground.”
He told the Oxford Mail that the club needed an environment fit for the 21st century and highlighted that fans and spectators were likely to “contribute to the local economy on match days”.
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He said: “Another aspect to consider is the employment opportunities the ground will bring - especially if it can be utilised for wider community use and to host conferences."
With the Women’s World Cup underway, Mr Fatemian said the impact of young people having “first class sporting facilities on their doorstep” shouldn’t be underestimated.
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He said: “Against the backdrop of the World Cup, how can you measure the prospect of lionesses potentially playing a game at Oxford United’s stadium?”
In response to the legal challenge being made by Friends of Stratfield Brake, an Oxfordshire County Council spokesman said: “We can confirm that an initial judicial review pre-action letter has been received from solicitors representing Friends of Stratfield Brake.
“This is with regards to Oxfordshire County Council’s public engagement exercise on the potential use of council-owned land for a new stadium.”
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Ed specialises in writing political stories for the Oxford Mail and The Oxford Times.
He joined in the team in February 2023, after completing a History undergraduate degree at the University of York and studying for his NCTJ diploma in London.
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