Oxfordshire County Council owns the 'Triangle', an area of land which it has offered to Oxford United as a site for its new stadium.  As well as being the land owner the council is also the highways authority. 

In April 2023 Councillor Liz Leffman, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, replied to an email sent on behalf of the four parishes of Kidlington, Begbroke, Yarnton, and Gosford & Water Eaton in which they expressed concern regarding Oxford United’s planned closures of the Oxford Road on match days.  Cllr Leffman wrote “we will not support any proposal that includes the closure of the road on match days”.  

However, in September 2023 the county council’s senior transport planner in response to Oxford United’s pre-planning application wrote:  “A bridge would be preferable but may not be possible due to land constraints or necessary due to the approved speed limit reduction on Oxford Road and the planned crossings.  Due to the number of fans and the width of the footways, it may be necessary to close part of Oxford Road between the stadium and Oxford Parkway before/after matches to allow more space for pedestrians”.  

In April 2024 in response to Oxford United’s planning application, the same officer responded along similar lines i.e. on the assumption that there may be road closures on match days.  

National Highways response in June 2024 states:  “There is not much that can be said concerning Traffic Management proposals at this stage apart from noting that the closure of the section of Oxford Road adjacent the proposed stadium and Oxford Parkway Station would appear to be a practical necessity…”

We call on the leader of Oxfordshire County Council to confirm that she is standing by her commitment to the four parish councils that any proposal by Oxford United to close the Oxford Road on match days will not be supported and that this condition is included within the lease option signed by her administration. If it is not, can she explain why not and how this condition will be imposed?