The Priory, Firoka, The City Council & (at last) Oxford Times
- Thread starter Sarge
- Start date
as owners Oxford City council have IMO criminally neglected to enforce the leaseholder- our slum landlord, tax exiled in Monaco- meeting the obligations of both the lease he holds and also planning permission requirements (err) prior to him building his Hotel next to the Bowlplex and The Priory
its a grade 11 listed building which should be much better protected, and looked after than it has been by both Oxford City Council and also Firoka
its a grade 11 listed building which should be much better protected, and looked after than it has been by both Oxford City Council and also Firoka
silence for around a year ...then both the Ox Times and Oxford Mail run the same story?
https://www.Oxfordm**l.co.uk/news/1...w_ywplZCv8o9aIUtymFMMmjni4epCIa8BqmH6sby_qdzg
local council elections in May wouldnt be a factor, would they?
https://www.Oxfordm**l.co.uk/news/1...w_ywplZCv8o9aIUtymFMMmjni4epCIa8BqmH6sby_qdzg
local council elections in May wouldnt be a factor, would they?
m
Level: Les Phillips
(224 Apps, 15 Gls)
f*****g Hell. When the OM or OT (sic) you, you've really got problems.
Do like the sound of the time-travelling caravans in the comments though. Cool.
Do like the sound of the time-travelling caravans in the comments though. Cool.
Thomas/Brock/Jones
Level: Steve Basham
(189 Apps, 51 Gls)
Doesn't this just show what an absolute horrible human he is, only interested in himself and money . No morals at all.
Deleted member 222
Guest
Surely their is a group/company with hire power than a local council who could get involved in making sure a listed building is protected?
Foley
Level: Colin Harrington
(260 Apps, 30 Gls)
Agreed.
The council appear to have been either weak or bordering on negligent.
Kassam appears to have had the council round his little finger.
Did I read that he received planning permission for the hotel based on him keeping the Priory maintained to a reasonable condition?
Utter utter shambles and a total disgrace.
- Year of First Game
- 1974
A FOI to OCC asking for correspondence etc between themselves and FK concerning this matter might be useful. May possibly even be grounds for a complaint against OCC regarding the way they have handled this matter.
Of course, the simplest way to have dealt with this was to give FK a short period of grace to comply with the planning condition then revoke the hotel's operating licence if he failed to do so.
Of course, the simplest way to have dealt with this was to give FK a short period of grace to comply with the planning condition then revoke the hotel's operating licence if he failed to do so.
If he doesn’t restore it to its full condition, tear the hotel down.
Manorlounger
Level: Les Phillips
(224 Apps, 15 Gls)
Is there not a case of negligence on the part of OCC here?
The Priory, it is stated, is "owned" by the council which makes it property of the electorate. If they, the council, are not ensuring the upkeep of council owned property then, surely, they are negligent?
The Priory, it is stated, is "owned" by the council which makes it property of the electorate. If they, the council, are not ensuring the upkeep of council owned property then, surely, they are negligent?
Gary Baldi
Level: Paul Moody
(197 Apps, 75 Gls)
FK/Firoka, as the lessee has responsibiities in the lease they signed. Let's not forget how forceful they are with OUFC and the licsense. I see no reason for OCC to not take a similar attitude.
LondonRoader
Level: Andy Crosby
(122 Apps, 13 Gls)
This building is a stone around everyone's neck, the council, Firoka and the fans.
It's a listed building so a minimum of structural improvements can be made, it could be made usable but not for a commercial gain and is very limited in what can be carried out there, the building footprint is limiting in it's use, too small for a hotel, too small for a pub and with no passing trade to keep it ticking over, there are not many positives to this building.
The Priory might get a new lease of life when the train station goes in, but what that might be as who knows.
It's a listed building so a minimum of structural improvements can be made, it could be made usable but not for a commercial gain and is very limited in what can be carried out there, the building footprint is limiting in it's use, too small for a hotel, too small for a pub and with no passing trade to keep it ticking over, there are not many positives to this building.
The Priory might get a new lease of life when the train station goes in, but what that might be as who knows.
Gary Baldi
Level: Paul Moody
(197 Apps, 75 Gls)
Firoka are still obligated to maintain it properly though, regardless of how useful it is to him. The terms on the lease will be very clear....
LondonRoader
Level: Andy Crosby
(122 Apps, 13 Gls)
I agree, but does that mean it has to be a usable building or one that just won't fall down.
They are ! ....but Firokas owner appears to be clad in teflon when being dealt with by the toothless priory owners ox city council
'Fit for use' is part of the terminology i believe?
Manorlounger
Level: Les Phillips
(224 Apps, 15 Gls)
Sadly, the latter, I would think. As a commercial venture it really doesn't have much potential. The proximity of the sewage works makes it less than attractive to the restaurant trade and it is too small to generate sufficient income as it stands.
bazzer9461
Level: Joey Beauchamp
(428 Apps, 79 Gls)
- Year of First Game
- 1968
definitely
bazzer9461
Level: Joey Beauchamp
(428 Apps, 79 Gls)
- Year of First Game
- 1968
The city council are corrupt and are a big failing on its duties to the city of Oxford....mind you if a developer came in and said I will replace the priory with 20 student flats you could bet your bottom dollar we would see flats within a year
Gary Baldi
Level: Paul Moody
(197 Apps, 75 Gls)
Its as per the terms of the lease. If that means usable, it has been to usable and not left to a tenant to make do as the investment will be huge/
Seeing as the overall site is profitable, Firoka just cannot say we ain't got the money.
Gary Baldi
Level: Paul Moody
(197 Apps, 75 Gls)
Having dealt with similar issues, it requires a level of persistence, detail, lawyers and calmness to get around lessees like Firoka. You can do it if the will is there, and it's very simple to enforce
I wish oxford city council saw it that way & had already dealt with the sad state of affairs re the grade 11 listed priory which they own @Gary Baldi
Foley
Level: Colin Harrington
(260 Apps, 30 Gls)
I would suspect that the Council are wary of spending a lot of money in legal fees.
Kassam seems to virtually never back down and he also seems to have run rings round the council.
- Year of First Game
- 1974
Could always have a matchday marquee next to the pub to boost sales. Just a thought like ...... ?
In the case of OCC the will has not been there. It was a condition of the 2014 planning grant for the hotel that the Priory be refurbished BEFORE work commenced on the hotel. This was waived in 'a deal' by which the lease would be reissued with 99 year term and Kassam would fix both the inside and outside (which I think was part of the original refurbishment above anyway) BEFORE the hotel could open for business.
Both these conditions could have been simply enforced at the designated times. Why weren't they? I have some emails that indicate English Heritage and Oxford Preservation understood that a resolution was agreed between OCC and Kassam and work on the Priory was imminent; these date from late 2014 iirc. At that timeI had applied for the Priory to be placed on the 'building at risk' register.
What happened? I don't know. I sent my documents to Nathan Briant last year. I wonder if, since OCC is silent, he has approached Nick Worrledge, who should be well acquainted with what actually went down. I am sure there's nothing OCC wouldn't be happy to put on public record.
2014 planning grant was the renewal of the expired 2004 one, btw.
uptheus
Level: Paul Moody
(197 Apps, 75 Gls)
That wouldn’t be in keeping with the area!!
Gary Baldi
Level: Paul Moody
(197 Apps, 75 Gls)
Which means they are effectively letting any rich businessman to do what the hell he likes with their property, because they won't enforce a lease.
Andy Stroud
Level: Dave Langan
(136 Apps, 3 Gls)
You might want to withdraw that Baz
