Oxford united FC
Oxford United ‘told to stop new stadium work or face action’
The club’s plans for a 16,000-seat stadium include a 180-bedroom hotel, restaurant, conference centre, health and wellbeing space and a gym as well as a community plaza.
It was only last month that Oxford United signed a Section 106 agreement with Cherwell District Council which would put money into the community funded by the football club.
Now, an email chain seen by this newspaper suggests a Cherwell District Council enforcement officer has requested to the development’s agents “that no further works continue”.
“Failure to comply may result in formal enforcement action,” the enforcement officer said in an email on Thursday, March 19.
READ MORE: Oxford United boss speaks on ‘huge’ new stadium progress
It’s claimed in the emails that an area of The Triangle designated for the stadium in Kidlington has been cleared of vegetation and hardcore surface has been installed.
A decision notice previously issued to Oxford United said: “No development shall commence (including demolition, ground works, vegetation clearance) unless and until a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP: Biodiversity) has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.”
The Friends of Stratfield Brake group has claimed this has not been submitted and is therefore not agreed to by the council.
Cherwell District Council declined to comment.
A representative of Oxford United claimed the story is “untrue” and declined to comment.
Friends of Stratfield Brake, which opposes the stadium development, said it is “shocked” to receive several reports from residents about the changes to the site.
READ MORE: Chancellor Rachel Reeves ‘living as single mother’ after husband’s Oxford move
The groups’ representative said: “Sadly we are unsurprised that OUFC has started works before the proper environmental safeguards are in place.
“The club’s attitude to biodiversity on the site has been dismissive from the outset.
“We have raised enough funds to enable us to seek a judicial review of the planning decision.
“This includes environmental issues relating to ancient woodland and protected species and we believe that all works on site must cease until this legal challenge is completed.
“OUFC’s recent irresponsible actions demonstrate a lack of respect for Cherwell District Council’s development conditions which does not bode well for the local community and environment if this development proceeds.”
FoSB’s solicitor Ricky Gama, of Leigh Day, has recently written to Oxford United to ask what further works it intends to carry out before the judicial review has concluded.
The group said it may consider seeking an injunction to “prevent further irreversible damage to the site if necessary”.
It is said that the Section 106 agreement last month will see more than £5 million invested into infrastructure and local projects, alongside other commitments made as part of a separate Community Collaboration Agreement.
With formal planning approval received, the club can now progress with the next phase of the project, which includes the discharge of pre-commencement conditions and enabling works ahead of construction.
The U’s are looking to strengthen after their relegation from the Championship last season, with a new striker wanted by supporters after the return of fan favourite Will Lankshear to his parent club Tottenham Hotspur.
Chaplin spent last season on loan at boyhood club Portsmouth as the club survived in the second tier, the 29-year-old scoring twice and managing one assist in 40 appearances.
Meanwhile, his parent club Ipswich secured promotion to the Premier League by finishing second in the league only behind runaway champions Coventry City.
The Englishman was key in the Tractor Boys’ League One promotion-winning season where they finished second, Chaplin scoring 26 goals that year to win the division’s Golden Boot award, joint with Peterborough United’s Jonson Clarke-Harris.
READ MORE: New League One clubs join Oxford United in race for Kyreece Lisbie
READ MORE: Ex-Oxford United youngster Joshua Johnson signs for Maidenhead
He was also awarded Ipswich’s Player of the Season award and included in the League One Team of the Season.
Chaplin then struck 13 goals in the Championship as the Suffolk side were promoted again, before suffering relegation from the Premier League the year after.
The attacking midfielder was released by Ipswich last month following their return to the top flight and SportsBoom are reporting that Oxford have ‘expressed an interest’ in signing the free agent.
With experience in the top tiers of English football and proof of goal scoring prowess in League One, Chaplin would be a sensible addition to the U’s ranks.
Tottenham Hotspur want £20 million for 21-year-old Will Lankshear and have turned down multiple bids for him, according to Hayters.
The ex-U’s striker, who was the club’s top scorer last term with 12 goals in all competitions, is highly rated by his parent side who narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League last season finishing two points above the drop zone.
READ MORE: Ex-Oxford United striker set for first team leap at Spurs
However, they haven’t ruled out selling him if the right offer comes in with Portuguese side Sporting CP reportedly interested.
In addition Spurs is also considering another loan move for Lankshear to a Championship club, although the London team is looking to fund a summer spending spree that has already seen a £52 million bid for defender Jan Paul Van Hecke accepted by Brighton.
READ MORE: United States tourist battles fire at Oxfordshire Tesco
Lankshear has made three Premier League appearances for Spurs as well as scoring one goal in three Europa League features.
In a breakout season in men’s football, the England youth international became a fan favourite in OX4 for his tenacity and goal scoring success in a struggling Championship team.
The 21-year-old’s attitude off the pitch also endeared the fans to his name, with the player crediting the club as the place where it all began ahead of a hopefully successful career.
The U’s will play host to the Tractor Boys on Saturday, August 1, with kick-off scheduled for 12:00PM.
The fixture is the fourth pre-season friendly confirmed by the club and the first from a division higher than League One, where Oxford will compete next term.
United will face National League side Aldershot Town (Tuesday, July 21) and League Two club Barnet (Saturday, July 25) away from home before the welcoming of another fourth-tier outfit Crawley Town (Tuesday, July 28).
The U’s have also confirmed that tickets for the trip to Aldershot are now on sale.
Oxford played Ipswich twice in the Championship last season as Matt Bloomfield’s side suffered relegation whilst the Suffolk club were promoted to the Premier League, finishing second.
READ MORE: New League One clubs join Oxford United in race for Kyreece Lisbie
READ MORE: Ex-Oxford United man released by Championship Bristol City
Under former head coach Gary Rowett, the Yellows pulled off a shock 2-1 victory against Kieran McKenna’s men in OX4 in late November, Mark Harris and Przemyslaw Placheta scoring the goals.
They were defeated 2-1, however, in the second fixture, Will Lankshear scoring the only goal for the U’s at Portman Road.
The Tractor Boys are currently on the hunt for a new manager after McKenna stepped down last week in order to take a break from football management.
Mark Rutte says Nato needs ‘more forces, more resources’ ahead of defence ministers meeting– Europe live | World news
Haiilo partners Work Networks to boost platform adoption
New Oxford campaign seeks to demystify genetic and neurological conditions using animations
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoOxfordshire bridge closure comes as management ‘weaknesses’ found
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoWhat happens to Halifax customers if Lloyds makes changes?
-
Oxford News4 weeks agoActor steps down from major role in new Harry Potter series
-
UK News4 weeks agoBurnham seeks to calm markets by committing to fiscal rules
-
UK News4 weeks agoGlass deposit scheme 'risks major problems' for retail industry
-
UK News4 weeks agoEx-minister Shapps quits aerospace firm over rule concerns
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoRyan Bridge speaks of London arrest after Oxford incident
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoOxfordshire man accused of sexual offences 40 years ago