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Last night Oxford City Council held the second and final public consultation meeting in relation to the land for leisure deal with Firoz Kassam and the football club. Despite the terrible weather the meeting went ahead with a good turn out of local residents and Oxford United supporters/FOUL members. The meeting was far less heated than the Blackbird Leys meeting most of the local residents concerns being answered to their satisfaction. The need for a gate across the Minchery Farm track coming out as the local residents biggest single concern.
As at Blackbird Leys a vote was taken firstly of just the Littlemore residents. The results of this were a resounding YES, with only 7 people opposing the plan and approximately 80 people in favour. Of the remaining 60 or so people from outside the area the result was a predictable 100% yes vote.
Firoz Kassam who was again in attendance was invited to say a few words to the meeting at the end. He explained how he was pleased with the progress made so far and that he would continue to work towards the completion of the stadium within 9 to 12 months from now. He stressed the importance of the planning application for the multiplex cinema and that if this were to be called in by the Government it would introduce a delay that would almost certainly see the end of the rescue plan and more importantly the club's existence.
This now marks the end of the City Council's consultation process which has overwhelmingly backed the plan. As Firoz Kassam stated last night our focus now has to be on doing all we can to stop the planning application being called in by the Government Office.
FOUL has also announced the next date for a public meeting of supporters at Oxford Town Hall for 7:30 on Tuesday 4th May. This date is just 2 days before the local council elections and we expect to have speakers from all the parties contesting the council elections along with representatives from FOUL and the club. Please put this date in your diaries now. We need a turn out at least as big as the previous meeting to show the level of support for the club's survival and leisure facilities in Oxford is as strong as ever. A large turnout will help us fight the planning decison being called in by the Government and provide the platform for the last big push to save our club.
