OxVox chair on Oxford United stadium plans and emails to councillors

The news that county council officers recommend selling land at The Triangle to the club for the new stadium is an important step forward.

Next week, on the 19th, the council cabinet will take a vital decision. They will decide whether to accept their officers’ recommendation and allow the club to use the land to build a new stadium.

This decision does nothing more than secure the land and allow the club to move forward into planning. If the club had its own land to build on, we would already be in planning. That is where a proper informed decision can be made and where a proper consultation with all the relevant details will happen.

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I am lucky enough to have experienced many of the high points with the club over the years and one thing that stands out is that success on the field lifts the whole city.

I remember returning from Wembley in 1986 and being struck by how many people had spilled out onto the streets. Yellow and blue was everywhere and the sense of community was intoxicating.

People who had little interest in football were excited for the city’s success. Kids had new heroes to emulate, and the corner of the world we all love was front and centre in the media.

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But back to the stadium. Campaigners have fought hard to stop this project getting to planning and sadly there has been a little too much scaremongering and negativity from their approach, and not enough reasoned debate.

It strikes me now that if and when this project reaches planning, the biggest objective will be to show the majority of Kidlington who remain cautious or undecided, that this project and this club can deliver that sense of community.

There were genuine concerns over Stratfield Brake, and the cabinet and the club listened. Inaccessible, overgrown land was chosen as a compromise but also because it would offer the chance to open it up to the public and make a hub for the local community.

The next few days are the absolute last chance for supporters of the club and residents of the county to make their voice heard and push this project forward to planning, where it belongs.

OxVox are calling on you to write a short email to the council cabinet, telling them why you support the stadium. We have provided all the relevant details and email addresses on our website so one click will give you all the information you need. Visit oxvox.org.uk/occwrite/

It’s time to bring that sense of community back to the county. It’s time to move on and let this project be seen by the people it will benefit. Help us by emailing the council in support. Thank you.