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Supporters Cry Foul Over County Council's Cinema Plans
Oxford United's independent supporters' group FOUL (Fighting for Oxford United's Life) have learned that Oxfordshire County Council are planning to object to the football club's application to build a multiplex cinema next to the half built 15,000 seat stadium at Minchery Farm. A report prepared by the Environmental Services Director, David Young, has recommended that Councillors ask John Prescott to make the decision after a public enquiry.
If the County Council officers get their way FOUL believes the football club will not survive the delay. This is because of United's precarious financial state and the fact that the Manor ground can not be used after the end of the forthcoming season. The multiplex cinema is seen as the last hope to complete the stadium and rescue the club from bankruptcy.
Mark Mallinson, FOUL's Marketing Officer, said "The County Council officers seem to be hell bent on killing off Oxford United. They have completely ignored the fact that Government advice to planners is to look favourably on developments like this to help build all seater stadiums and that they should include additional facilities for the benefit of the wider Community".
FOUL will be calling on its membership of more than 1200 Oxford supporters to lobby their County Councillors urgently in the hope they will see sense before the meeting that will decide United's fate. The meeting is open to the public and is expected to take place at 2:00pm on Monday 5th July at County Hall.
FOUL also believes that David Young's idea of developing a Multiplex Cinema at Oxpens that could be used to fund the new stadium is a completely unworkable suggestion. Quite apart from the fact that John Prescott has already refused permission for this after a lengthy public enquiry, nobody would expect Oxford City Council to hand over this valuable land to the football club.
Steve Hanks, FOUL Chair said "If this hadn't come from an official County Council press release you'd think it was a joke. Either the County Council Officers behind it are extremely naive or they think they can fool Oxford United supporters into thinking they really care about the club's survival".
FOUL strongly urges the County Council to reconsider their position for the benefit of all Oxfordshire's residents. Press Officer Martin Brodetsky reiterated the FOUL position: "No multiplex at Minchery Farm means no Firoz Kassam. No Firoz Kassam means no Oxford United. We believe that the planning arguments have already been addressed in the section 106 agreements. To delay further would be both politically and morally indefensible."
