New Stadium Plans - The Triangle - Planning

[sideshowrob]

Can anyone break the article out from behind the paywall?

Get yourself the Firefox browser and download 'pocket'. This beats any paywall and delivers the article with all adverts removed.

 

[Billyox]

Being a member of fosb

Dear Friends

As you may have read in the local press (paywall) https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24150634.oxford-united-stadium-plans-lack-bridge-causes-concerns/ (paywall) Oxford United has recently submitted a planning application for the stadium. The application will be available to view on Cherwell’s planning portal once it has been validated by officers. Based on previous experience of the club’s output it’s possible the application may fall short of the council’s requirements. So we await developments with interest.

It is notable that Oxford United has confirmed it is undertaking a separate planning application process to build a bridge over the road from the station. However, for a number of reasons, we don’t believe that this footbridge will ever be built. This means that Oxford United’s previously proposed road closures are still a key concern. We were therefore pleased that our most recent Freedom of Information request yielded an email from Cllr David Robey, Chair of Kidlington Parish Council, to the leader of Oxfordshire County Council (OCC), Cllr Liz Leffman. Cllr Robey writes on behalf of the four parishes of Kidlington, Gosford & Water Eaton, Begbroke & Yarnton: “the four parishes are gravely concerned by Oxford United’s current plans to close the A4260 before and after matches at the new stadium”.

Cllr Robey quoted OCC’s position as follows: “The County Council cabinet has required OUFC, before the lease of the Triangle site is finally agreed, to produce detailed plans that include the following:

e) Develop new pedestrian and cycle entrances and routes to improve accessibility, including a new pedestrian route across the Oxford Road, such as a footbridge, that improves pedestrian and cyclist access to the site from Oxford Parkway railway station and the Park & Ride without disrupting vehicle movements on the Oxford Road.”

Cllr Liz Leffman’s response was: “I understand your concerns, which I share. I can assure you that OCC's position is that stated by Cllr Dan Levy in his recent letter . We stand by our original decision, and we will not support any proposal that includes the closure of the road on match days.

It would seem impossible therefore for OCC to support this planning application in its current form.

We will keep you updated.

Best wishes

Friends of Stratfield Brake

 

[Steve Gilbert]

Being a member of fosb

Dear Friends

As you may have read in the local press (paywall) https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24150634.oxford-united-stadium-plans-lack-bridge-causes-concerns/ (paywall) Oxford United has recently submitted a planning application for the stadium. The application will be available to view on Cherwell’s planning portal once it has been validated by officers. Based on previous experience of the club’s output it’s possible the application may fall short of the council’s requirements. So we await developments with interest.

It is notable that Oxford United has confirmed it is undertaking a separate planning application process to build a bridge over the road from the station. However, for a number of reasons, we don’t believe that this footbridge will ever be built. This means that Oxford United’s previously proposed road closures are still a key concern. We were therefore pleased that our most recent Freedom of Information request yielded an email from Cllr David Robey, Chair of Kidlington Parish Council, to the leader of Oxfordshire County Council (OCC), Cllr Liz Leffman. Cllr Robey writes on behalf of the four parishes of Kidlington, Gosford & Water Eaton, Begbroke & Yarnton: “the four parishes are gravely concerned by Oxford United’s current plans to close the A4260 before and after matches at the new stadium”.

Cllr Robey quoted OCC’s position as follows: “The County Council cabinet has required OUFC, before the lease of the Triangle site is finally agreed, to produce detailed plans that include the following:

e) Develop new pedestrian and cycle entrances and routes to improve accessibility, including a new pedestrian route across the Oxford Road, such as a footbridge, that improves pedestrian and cyclist access to the site from Oxford Parkway railway station and the Park & Ride without disrupting vehicle movements on the Oxford Road.”

Cllr Liz Leffman’s response was: “I understand your concerns, which I share. I can assure you that OCC's position is that stated by Cllr Dan Levy in his recent letter . We stand by our original decision, and we will not support any proposal that includes the closure of the road on match days.

It would seem impossible therefore for OCC to support this planning application in its current form.

We will keep you updated.

Best wishes

Friends of Stratfield Brake

'We will make up a completely unsubstantial claim that the bridge that the football club are spending a decent amount of money to get planning for, wont ever get built. We don't have any evidence of this though.

We have also got an email that says that there should be a footbridge built, but remember, that footbridge will never be built even though we can't back this up with any proof and so we thought we would just scare you, as we are running out of ideas now.'

I've paraphrased for anyone who wanted the simple version.

 

[Billyox]

When they say freedom of information do they mean Ian just forwarded the email seeing he's a councillor on all 4 councils

As I've said before this is just fosb trying to stay relevant after their failed money grab of public money.
They have been sat on this so called information for a long time. November 8th Dan levy was in the fail saying the road must remain open so all this in the paper is nothing new and possible why we delayed putting in our planning application

 

[Steve Gilbert]

When they say freedom of information do they mean Ian just forwarded the email seeing he's a councillor on all 4 councils

Yes but to cover their backs they have to use freedom of information.

 

[ljs]

Was keeping Oxford Road open one of the conditions that had to be met to obtain rhe lease, back when the cabinet approved the lease if certain listed conditions were met?

Surely those conditions are the only ones that need to be met, not any others written in an email by any Councillor.

 

[OUSP]

"Develop new pedestrian and cycle entrances and routes to improve accessibility, including a new pedestrian route across the Oxford Road, such as a footbridge, that improves pedestrian and cyclist access to the site from Oxford Parkway railway station and the Park & Ride without disrupting vehicle movements on the Oxford Road.”

This condition was in the lease documents agreed by OCC at the meeting in September. These are conditions that have to be met to obtain the lease.
Note that it says "such as a footbridge", so a footbridge is not compulsory but some mechanism which does not disrupt vehicles is required.

 

[Scotchegg]

Suzanne McIvor is well known for Freedom of Information requests and some in the councils actually refer to a FoI as a "McIvor" these days. The stupid thing is that this information was already in the public domain so its more damp squib than smoking gun as usual.

As for "for a number of reasons, we don't believe that this footbridge will ever be built" - see Steve Hill. He has repeatedly said that neither the land owner of the P&R or Network Rail would ever give permission for a footbridge on their land. However, he fails to understand basic economics that would see a huge increase in revenue for train journeys and parking if the stadium is built. Added to the fact that Oxford United will pay for and install the bridge, then its a no-brainer that either body will readily support access from their land.

 

[Concretebob]

Being a member of fosb

Dear Friends

As you may have read in the local press (paywall) https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24150634.oxford-united-stadium-plans-lack-bridge-causes-concerns/ (paywall) Oxford United has recently submitted a planning application for the stadium. The application will be available to view on Cherwell’s planning portal once it has been validated by officers. Based on previous experience of the club’s output it’s possible the application may fall short of the council’s requirements. So we await developments with interest.

It is notable that Oxford United has confirmed it is undertaking a separate planning application process to build a bridge over the road from the station. However, for a number of reasons, we don’t believe that this footbridge will ever be built. This means that Oxford United’s previously proposed road closures are still a key concern. We were therefore pleased that our most recent Freedom of Information request yielded an email from Cllr David Robey, Chair of Kidlington Parish Council, to the leader of Oxfordshire County Council (OCC), Cllr Liz Leffman. Cllr Robey writes on behalf of the four parishes of Kidlington, Gosford & Water Eaton, Begbroke & Yarnton: “the four parishes are gravely concerned by Oxford United’s current plans to close the A4260 before and after matches at the new stadium”.

Cllr Robey quoted OCC’s position as follows: “The County Council cabinet has required OUFC, before the lease of the Triangle site is finally agreed, to produce detailed plans that include the following:

e) Develop new pedestrian and cycle entrances and routes to improve accessibility, including a new pedestrian route across the Oxford Road, such as a footbridge, that improves pedestrian and cyclist access to the site from Oxford Parkway railway station and the Park & Ride without disrupting vehicle movements on the Oxford Road.”

Cllr Liz Leffman’s response was: “I understand your concerns, which I share. I can assure you that OCC's position is that stated by Cllr Dan Levy in his recent letter . We stand by our original decision, and we will not support any proposal that includes the closure of the road on match days.

It would seem impossible therefore for OCC to support this planning application in its current form.

We will keep you updated.

Best wishes

Friends of Stratfield Brake

They really do talk some utter, utter rubbish don't they?

Desperate times for FoSB. They might as well disband.

 

[Concretebob]

Was keeping Oxford Road open one of the conditions that had to be met to obtain rhe lease, back when the cabinet approved the lease if certain listed conditions were met?

Surely those conditions are the only ones that need to be met, not any others written in an email by any Councillor.

It's an invented red line post the lease being conditionally granted. It's the opposition moving the goalposts to stop the stadium.

 

[Billyox]

Suzanne McIvor is well known for Freedom of Information requests and some in the councils actually refer to a FoI as a "McIvor" these days. The stupid thing is that this information was already in the public domain so its more damp squib than smoking gun as usual.

As for "for a number of reasons, we don't believe that this footbridge will ever be built" - see Steve Hill. He has repeatedly said that neither the land owner of the P&R or Network Rail would ever give permission for a footbridge on their land. However, he fails to understand basic economics that would see a huge increase in revenue for train journeys and parking if the stadium is built. Added to the fact that Oxford United will pay for and install the bridge, then its a no-brainer that either body will readily support access from their land.

I read that on there Facebook page not quite sure what Steve was on about when he kept on saying keep replying your bumping this up so more people can see it??
urm no Steve that's not quite how Facebook works

 

[Concretebob]

I read that on there Facebook page not quite sure what Steve was on about when he kept on saying keep replying your bumping this up so more people can see it??
urm no Steve that's not quite how Facebook works

I don't think he knows much outside of his life of privilege in Tackley apart from messing around with guitars and pontificating on social media, despite being a self appointed expert in well, everything?

 

[Concretebob]

As for "for a number of reasons, we don't believe that this footbridge will ever be built" - see Steve Hill. He has repeatedly said that neither the land owner of the P&R or Network Rail would ever give permission for a footbridge on their land. However, he fails to understand basic economics that would see a huge increase in revenue for train journeys and parking if the stadium is built. Added to the fact that Oxford United will pay for and install the bridge, then its a no-brainer that either body will readily support access from their land.

When you live such a sheltered life of privilege as Steve does, after a long career being a bailiff preying on the most vulnerable in society, perhaps you lose track of reality?

 

[Oxymoron]

I too have an FoI (Found on the Internet) from OCC - it's the report of the meeting of 19th September, explaining why they approved "in principal" the lease of the triangle.

It states
Cllr Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Leader, said:
"A key factor for the cabinet in reaching this decision has been to bring long-term benefit to communities in Oxfordshire. We believe the new stadium has the potential to do this by providing local employment, education opportunities for our young people, much improved facilities for local sports groups, and securing the future of county’s only professional football league club, which has such a positive impact on many people’s lives"

Now that shows just how much weight OCC are pitching behind this development. They see and understand the benefits of the bigger picture. Of course they have to be "cautiously neutral" and show that they are aware of the contentious issues associated with the stadium, but when push comes to shove, if the club have met their requirements (which do not include a footbridge), then they will be signing off on the lease when planning permission is granted.

 

[Concretebob]

I too have an FoI (Found on the Internet) from OCC - it's the report of the meeting of 19th September, explaining why they approved "in principal" the lease of the triangle.

It states
Cllr Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Leader, said:
"A key factor for the cabinet in reaching this decision has been to bring long-term benefit to communities in Oxfordshire. We believe the new stadium has the potential to do this by providing local employment, education opportunities for our young people, much improved facilities for local sports groups, and securing the future of county’s only professional football league club, which has such a positive impact on many people’s lives"

Now that shows just how much weight OCC are pitching behind this development. They see and understand the benefits of the bigger picture. Of course they have to be "cautiously neutral" and show that they are aware of the contentious issues associated with the stadium, but when push comes to shove, if the club have met their requirements (which do not include a footbridge), then they will be signing off on the lease when planning permission is granted.

No mention of road closures. If OUFC had moved the goalposts and perhaps suggested "actually, can we have a bigger stadium, 20,000" could you imagine the outcry from the opposition? When the boots on the correct foot, they don't seem to mind.

I am confident the stadium will be built and cannot wait to drive to The Triangle and see what progress is happening regularly.

 

[Wallop]

No mention of road closures. If OUFC had moved the goalposts and perhaps suggested "actually, can we have a bigger stadium, 20,000" could you imagine the outcry from the opposition? When the boots on the correct foot, they don't seem to mind.

I am confident the stadium will be built and cannot wait to drive to The Triangle and see what progress is happening regularly.

Tsk tsk - take the train, don't feed the trolls!!

 

[Concretebob]

Tsk tsk - take the train, don't feed the trolls!!

Sorry. Travel!!!

 

[Carpy]

Regardless of having a footbridge or not, I would be very surprised if there isn't a requirement to widen the footpaths (and maybe put in vehicle/pedestrians seperation) all the way down the train station, they're quite narrow paths for 16k folk to walk along all at once

 

[Billyox]

Regardless of having a footbridge or not, I would be very surprised if there isn't a requirement to widen the footpaths (and maybe put in vehicle/pedestrians seperation) all the way down the train station, they're quite narrow paths for 16k folk to walk along all at once

View attachment 18071

I think that is due to be done anyway I'm sure I've read that somewhere about the development of north Oxford golf course

 

[Carpy]

I think that is due to be done anyway I'm sure I've read that somewhere about the development of north Oxford golf course

I hope they do, when you get to the bridge that could become an expensive undertaking if OUFC are on the hook for it on their own