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FOUL (Fighting for Oxford United's Life) has issued the following press release:
FOUL says "It's time for action!"
Last week saw the good news of the withdrawal of the judicial review into planning permission for a multiplex cinema at Minchery Farm, followed by the rejection of Morrells' appeal against the original decision which overturned their injunction.
FOUL (Fighting for Oxford United's Life) believes that the ball is now firmly in the court of Oxford City Council to remove the remaining obstacles to building work recommencing on Oxford United's new stadium. Recent meetings between FOUL and the leadership of the three main parties on the City Council have confirmed that each of them remains committed to the Minchery Farm development and FOUL welcomes their support.
City Councillors now have a marvellous opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to the development by expediting the removal of the final two obstacles to a restart: the disputes with Thames Water and Les Wells. The Council's attitude to these remaining issues is crucial. It is vital that the momentum is not lost if builders are to be back on site by the start of September so that the stadium can be completed for the 2001-2 season.
In particular, FOUL calls on Oxford City Council to reach an agreement with Thames Water immediately rather than to pursue a protracted legal battle which will endanger the existence of the football club It is clearly up to the City Council to conclude the settlement with Thames Water over the value of the land on which the stadium and its associated developments are being built. The Council lost its case in the High Court and agreed to pay the water authority £500,000 in compensation, which it has yet to do. Our understanding is that the Liberal Democrats have lodged an appeal against this decision, something that could add months more delay to construction work restarting and could in theory leave United without a home next season.
FOUL seriously questions whether taking this path is in the best interests of the Council Tax payers in the city and urges the City Council to recompense Thames Water immediately. The Oxford City Council legal department should weeks ago have served papers with the Land Registry in Gloucester in order to waive the right-of-way claimed by landowner Les Wells. That it has failed to do so, and is now claiming that the case is unlikely to be heard before late September, is totally unacceptable and is a clear indication of the lack of either will or direction in the Town Hall.
Again FOUL asks that the City Council acts now to remove this Caution, thereby demonstrating a positive commitment to the future of Oxford United.
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