Comments submitted on planning portal as follows…
I grew up in Jericho and have been a supporter of Oxford United since the age of 11. Schooled in St Barnabus, Bishop Kirk and Oxford Boys. I am now 51 and exiled in Essex. That’s 40 years of following a wonderfully unique club, a sense of belonging to something socially cohesive, enjoyable, sometimes passionate, often despairing a life-affirming game of ups and downs.
Losing the Manor Ground was sadly inevitable, gaining the Kassam was underwhelming and in the end has been extremely frustrating and disappointing as well as a financial curse around the club’s neck.
This astonishing chance to have a state of the art, environmentally friendly, first class and beautiful new stadium built within earshot of where I played and grew up (Port Meadow, Wolvercote, Jericho) must not be passed up and thrown away and destroyed.
It may never happen again if we don’t grasp, with every fibre of our being, with all the will-power necessary to placate the naysayers and spoil-sports (literally) who will never want anything near them, who will always cry foul, make up spurious arguments, put everyone’s hard work at risk.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for societal good, for community, for mental and physical well-being, for local community sports clubs, for youngsters to have something else to follow and believe in - like I did - a council house kid who found a wider connection and, despite the occasional hard times (for the club) a feeling that no matter what we would all be in this together.
Allied to the perfect location in terms of travel hubs (my journey from near Stansted will involve the train), many fans live nationally not just locally, the green credentials are impressive and bike use is also very feasible.
Employment opportunities and links to the local community and county are also massive.
It’s important that any building, ever on green belt land is done for unique reasons that will do so much more good than harm. An old bit of ‘toxic wasteland’ transformed into a green hub, a beacon and light of positive change and ideas - this is our chance!
Please I implore you, do the right thing and sign this through now. It may indeed be very survival of the club at stake.
It’s not much but hopefully it helps a tiny bit.