New Stadium Plans - The Triangle - Planning

[OX14]

Re the footbridge etc. I asked at the exhibition and the comment was that they will have to follow what highways want etc but that if a footbridge was put in only certain % would wait to use it (as no way it could be wide enough for a free flow) and therefore rather than wait people will just cross the road
On that basis highways would probably decide to close the road anyway and n safety grounds so the bridge might be a lot of complex build/money for little benefit etc.

That's a very valid point. No point in building any bridge or underpass if the highways are going to enforce a road closure anyways.

 

[ECYellow]

Attended a meeting with the Project Team today alongside other members of the Supporters Panel. I took some notes and will be able to answer those that asked specific questions when I get a moment. But @OUSP Secretary will kindly collate everything in a newsletter to come out next week which should give a more comprehensive overview.

The Project Team are really open to feedback, both positive and negative. As a Panel we didn't hold back about raising issues regarding the negative press that has come as a result of road closures, and how this has given the anti's some unnecessary ammunition. Equally, the fact that the club stated that capacity events would take place twice a week which fueled Middleton banging on about 104 days a year rather than the 40 events it is likely to be (and this includes Women's games which will be significantly below capacity, but with the hope to increase over time).

They owned some of the mistakes in the presentation and listened to ways that we can address these in the future. And they were also honest about the challenges that arise from building on Green Belt. But no stone will be left unturned in ensuring that the stadium gets planning approval, is built on schedule, and becomes the stadium that is the benchmark for all future stadium.

It already feels like this will be a stadium that meets the needs of everyone, but it is really important that everyone shares their views. The public exhibition is open for another week, so please do attend if you can (there were really good numbers going through today). But if you are unable to attend in person, please do look on the stadium website and complete your comments in the section provided. Positive and negative views, and everything in between are all valuable, and there is a team of people reviewing every comment and summarising these for the Project Team, so please make your voices heard.

Home - Oxford United Stadium

https://oufcstadium.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/OUFC-New-Stadium-Development-Animation-_-with-music-2-APPROVED.mp4 We are thrilled to announce the next phase of our groundbreaking project to create a new home for Oxford United and a fantastic new community destination for the people of...

oufcstadium.co.uk

*Sounds great. Who’s paying for it and how??

*I don’t expect you to know the answer but it’s the question that keeps getting ignored.

 

[Scotchegg]

That's a very valid point. No point in building any bridge or underpass if the highways are going to enforce a road closure anyways.

Exactly this. 10k people leaving at the same time and have the choice of bottlenecks and potential crush/disorder as they all try to navigate across a bridge or through an underpass, or take a shortcut across one road? The reality is that they will use the road, even with traffic coming in both directions.

Also, a bridge/underpass will leave a huge carbon footprint which will make attaining net zero so much harder.

The reality is that a bridge for matchday usage is highly unlikely, and probably unnecessary.

 

[Scotchegg]

*Sounds great. Who’s paying for it and how??

*I don’t expect you to know the answer but it’s the question that keeps getting ignored.

I'll try to dig out the quotes from several months ago, but it was said that money would be raised through the markets and would be the liability of the owners rather than the club.

I appreciate that this is hugely vague and further information is needed.

 

[werthersoriginal]

I'll try to dig out the quotes from several months ago, but it was said that money would be raised through the markets and would be the liability of the owners rather than the club.

I appreciate that this is hugely vague and further information is needed.

I dont really understand how distinct the club and the owners are. The ground may nominally belong to the club but the club belongs to the owners. As I understand it, there will be structures preventing the sale of the club without the ground, so that we don’t end up back where we are now - I hope that’s right.

 

[Followtheox1]

*Sounds great. Who’s paying for it and how??

*I don’t expect you to know the answer but it’s the question that keeps getting ignored.

I agree.

 

[ECYellow]

I'll try to dig out the quotes from several months ago, but it was said that money would be raised through the markets and would be the liability of the owners rather than the club.

I appreciate that this is hugely vague and further information is needed.

Thanks.

There are a number of posters that profess to be close to the plans, and yet, I’ve not seen one that has been prepared to nail their colours to the mast in terms of deal structure and how it looks to OUFC. Perhaps they don’t know, but surely OxVox should know; or be party to the financial plans?

It would be really useful if the supporters knew how our new home is going to shape our future financially.

 

[Scotchegg]

Thanks.

There are a number of posters that profess to be close to the plans, and yet, I’ve not seen one that has been prepared to nail their colours to the mast in terms of deal structure and how it looks to OUFC. Perhaps they don’t know, but surely OxVox should know; or be party to the financial plans?

It would be really useful if the supporters knew how our new home is going to shape our future financially.

I agree, and it would certainly fit with OxVox role perhaps more than OUSP, but I'm very happy to push the club for more information.

 

[Oslernorth]

Guessing you're thinking of something like attached? Big and wide, could also link up with footpaths going north to the new estate.

We would probably need to work with the housing developers, Chiltern Railways and council to come so some solution to benefit all.

As others have said the big problem would be the prolonged disruption whilst the underpass is built.

View attachment 16250

Last year, there was a project to put a number of underpasses beneath the embanked railway line in Bicester. The bridges were built alongside the line over a number of months. Once finished, the railway was closed for a couple of days, the embankment cut out, and the new bridge slid into position. This technique meant the line was only closed for days rather than months, massively reducing disruption

 

[mooro]

Guessing you're thinking of something like attached? Big and wide, could also link up with footpaths going north to the new estate.

We would probably need to work with the housing developers, Chiltern Railways and council to come so some solution to benefit all.

As others have said the big problem would be the prolonged disruption whilst the underpass is built.

View attachment 16250

Not sure whether this mock up was serious, but I am only talking about going under the first road, then using the road bridge to take people over the A34 and the railway.

Given that the road is raised/rising in order to go over the A34 then a subway would be roughly at ground level, so little digging down would be required and it would also form the natural route rather than scrambling up a bank and hurdling a fence to cross the road

Closing one southbound lane would provide more space for pedestrians while keeping lanes in both directions open.

BTW, as I said earlier, I agree with the points people have made about footbridges and people's reluctance to use them. Add in the risks of large number of people using steps up and down and the height needed to rise from the stadium field up and over the already raised road then new footbridges are not going to be the answer

 

[uptheus]

That's a very valid point. No point in building any bridge or underpass if the highways are going to enforce a road closure anyways.

This was the response I got too.

 

[Concretebob]

Old Tackley Steve is on the BBC Radio Oxford Facebook page belting out all the FoSB classics again. Why can't we stay at the Kassam, traffic, and now the newest hit from their new album, road closures.

Just don't know where a man originally not from Oxfordshire gets off dictating our future. Who the hell do these people think they are?

 

[Concretebob]

Last year, there was a project to put a number of underpasses beneath the embanked railway line in Bicester. The bridges were built alongside the line over a number of months. Once finished, the railway was closed for a couple of days, the embankment cut out, and the new bridge slid into position. This technique meant the line was only closed for days rather than months, massively reducing disruption

A very similar project happened in Leamington Spa recently, the whole thing took place over a bank holiday weekend and it was quite spectacle for local residents with big crowds there.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

*Sounds great. Who’s paying for it and how??

*I don’t expect you to know the answer but it’s the question that keeps getting ignored.

How have you asked that question to?

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Old Tackley Steve is on the BBC Radio Oxford Facebook page belting out all the FoSB classics again. Why can't we stay at the Kassam, traffic, and now the newest hit from their new album, road closures.

Just don't know where a man originally not from Oxfordshire gets off dictating our future. Who the hell do these people think they are?

They think they're superior than football fans.

 

[Sarge]

They think they're superior than football fans.

well ,Tackley Steve does earn £1000 an hour ( he claims)

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

well ,Tackley Steve does earn £1000 an hour ( he claims)

I'll be extremely disappointed in him if he doesn't single handedly fund their legal fees. Put your money where you mouth is mate.

 

[Concretebob]

They think they're superior than football fans.

That's exactly it. These people moved to Oxfordshire as they felt they were better than where they are from. Now they don't like the natives trying to doing something for themselves. We are destroying their dreams in their eyes.

 

[Concretebob]

I'll be extremely disappointed in him if he doesn't single handedly fund their legal fees. Put your money where you mouth is mate.

It wouldn't surprise me if FoSB are arrogant enough to think they qualify for legal aid

 

[Scotchegg]

Having met with the Project Team yesterday, I asked what we can do as a fanbase to help us progress. There response was;

1. Engage in the exhibition in person or online and give feedback (positive and negative). This is our opportunity to influence the design if the stadium and make it perfect for everyone of us, but also to show how much public interest there is in the stadium.

2. Contact your local councillors, MP's and prospective MP's to ask for their continued support. More details will follow on how we can do this collectively, but no harm in anyone looking to establish these political links whilst things are relatively quiet.

3. Instead of engaging in online arguments with those against the stadium, counter every negative with a positive. Those opposing the stadium are very small in number but incredibly noisy. We will never change their views, because they are ignorant and looking at their own self interest. However, there are thousands of local residents who are either quietly supportive or wanting to hear more about the benefits.

Talk about the economic benefits, the 10% improvement in biodiversity (an absolute minimum that we will look to go much further with), bringing jobs into the area which will provide secondary employment for some of the poorer paid people locally as well as students and mums who can work around childcare. Low unemployment doesn't mean that people won't want or need extra work. Talk about the incredible community opportunities and the enhanced nature space at the top of the triangle, and how this links SB to the west and the new sports pitches to the east. This will actively encourage people to enjoy nature. Talk about the restaurants, bars and community spaces that will exist every day and will be somewhere for families and local residents to enjoy.

Talk about the space provided for health provision that could be used as a GP's hub, or community hospital, or to bring services out from the Oxford hospitals and into the community. The use of this has yet to be agreed so its a perfect opportunity for local residents to say what they want it to be used for.

And talk about the incredible fanbase that we have, and how this will grow. Look at our women's team, family days, #HerGameToo, the disability forums, the walking football, Down Syndrome team and so much more.

I'm certainly not advocating ignoring those on Nextdoor, Facebook, Twitter or others, and there will be a time when some of the individuals involved will face the consequences for the lies that they've told. But we have an opportunity to use our passion for our club to show the wider communities just how good this stadium will be for them all.