Table tennis facilities available for all ages and abilities in southern Oxfordshire
Table tennis tables will be appearing in locations across southern Oxfordshire over the summer. The tables are part of an ongoing initiative with South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils to help residents be active and healthy.
The councils are working alongside Table Tennis England, the councils’ Didcot Garden Town project team and Didcot Town Council to part fund the tables.
The permanent tables will be in the following locations:
- St Edmunds Park, Didcot
- Ladygrove Park, Didcot
- The Southern and District Community centres on Great Western Park, Didcot
- Kennington
- Shrivenham
- Chalgrove
- Beckley and Stowood
And there are semi-permanent tables in Benson, Faringdon and Lewknor.
All tables except those at the Southern and District community centres in Didcot will be free for residents to use. At the centres there will be a small charge.
The parishes that now have permanent tables had table tennis groups previously set up in their area and have demonstrated a need for them to become a main fixture.
The locations where tables are semi-permanent will be assessed for six months and if they are shown to be popular will also remain in those areas of the two districts.
Cllr Helen Pighills, Cabinet Member for Healthy Communities at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “We have seen in other areas how great a facility like this can be. Table tennis is really fun and can be played by all ages and abilities. I’m pleased we’ve been able to work alongside other organisations to make them available.”
Cllr Maggie Filipova- Rivers, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “My children will love this, as will I, though I might need to have a bit of a practice. I’m looking forward to seeing residents, young and old, with their bat and ball keeping active and having fun at the same time.”
Residents wanting to use the outdoor tables will need to bring their own bats and balls.
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils will keep residents updated with details of the locations of the tables as they arrive via their websites.