Two in three people are opposed to Oxford United's new stadium plans, says Kidlington East's newest Green Party councillor. 

The Greens gained a seat over the Conservatives in Kidlington East with Oxford United’s stadium being a point of discussion after the Cherwell District Council results were announced.

Green councillor Linda Catherine Ward said Kidlington is facing “a lot of change” and pointed to the stadium plans as being a “hugely decisive” issue.

READ MORE: Oxford City Council Local Election 2024 results in full

The club submitted its full planning application for a 16,000-capacity ground at The Triangle, south of Kidlington Roundabout last month.

The design includes a 180-bed hotel, restaurant, conference and event space, along with a health and wellbeing centre.

Ms Ward said: “The parish poll was quite decisive and it has held up with other surveys that have been done.

“It is pretty consistent that broadly two out of three residents are opposed to the stadium in Kidlington.

“Equally a significant number are in favour of it, so at the moment, it is going through the planning application process.

“We have been looking at a huge amount of literature on the parish council and at the moment the parish council doesn’t think the application is good enough.

“There are a lot of questions around it.

"I am particularly concerned by the ecology issues because the land they are planning to build on is a very rich habitat for all kinds of plants and animals.

“I think the jury is out on the stadium.”

The district council remains with no party in overall control but the Liberal Democrats took seven wards from the Conservatives, and are now the biggest party on 17 seats.