Petition to revive Oxford Uni vandalised sports ground

Oxford University colleges Exeter and Hertford submitted plans to improve their shared sports grounds in Edgeway Road, Marston, but the application was turned down by Oxford City Council planning committee on November 18, 2025.

The plan includes facilities such as indoor and outdoor padel courts, cricket nets, basketball, netball, and five-a-side courts, and a golf simulator.

The old squash court was set to house a golf simulator, and the proposal included a friendly café, better disabled access and more green space with trees and wildflowers.

The grass pitches were to be open for hire, but schools and charities were offered free hours.

Exeter College cricket pavilion at Marston (Image: Image: Exeter College/Hertford College)

Residents and clubs could have used the grounds all year, with affordable pricing for all.

The plan also aimed to encourage people to walk, cycle, or scoot to the site on new footpaths, with proper cycle and scooter parking.

The petition argues that Oxford has limited affordable places to play, and this site, already hosting sports, could have been a shared space for everyone.

The petition, launched on Change.org, states: “A project with this much to offer local health, wellbeing and community life deserves to go ahead.

“This petition shows how many local people would welcome and use a community sports hub in Marston, and asks for the proposal to be supported.”

Petition launched for Oxford University colleges plan to revamp sports field (Image: Image: Exeter College/Hertford College)

There were a number of objections to the plans from residents.

The college at the time said the project will breathe new life into an underused site that has suffered from vandalism and anti-social behaviour in recent years, transforming it into a year-round destination.

Oxford City Council’s planning committee refused the application in November.

Planning officers recommended that the plans should be refused for several reasons.

Petition launched for Oxford University colleges plan to revamp sports field (Image: Image: Exeter College/Hertford College)

In their report, they stated the padel enclosure would “fail to preserve the openness of the Green Belt”, that the plans do not address potential noise and disturbance from the air source heat pumps, and that there is not enough information about how these facilities would cope with flooding.

The Environment Agency and the lead local flood authority objected over the lack of detail on how the development would deal with flooding.

Roughly 30 objections were lodged against the scheme, while others supported it.

Laura Warden, senior planning officer for Oxford Preservation Trust, said: “More sensitive consideration needs to be given to the site’s setting next to the floodplain meadows and the heritage significance of this ‘green finger’ which runs from Marston down towards the city.

“Although we support the re-use and retention of the existing buildings we find the level of additional development, especially the padel tennis canopy and additional lighting across the site, to be excessive.”