Help shape the future of sporting and leisure facilities
Starting today, sports clubs, leisure users and sports enthusiasts can have their say on sports and leisure facilities in South Oxfordshire and the Vale.
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have launched their Playing Pitch and Leisure Facilities consultations looking at current and future provision of facilities across the districts.
Each district has a separate consultation which looks at what sports pitches and leisure facilities the districts have and recommends options for the future.
The councils are now inviting residents and organisations involved with sports in South Oxfordshire and the Vale to get involved with the consultations and give their feedback about what the councils need to protect, enhance, and provide.
The consultations can be found on the council’s websites:
https://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/LeisurePitchVale
https://www.southoxon.gov.uk/LeisurePitchSouth
Copies of the consultation have been sent to sports groups, clubs and leisure providers across the districts and can be found at the Council’s offices at Abbey House in Abingdon and in Better Leisure centres for those who do not have access to the internet.
In some areas of the districts such as Didcot, organisations may wish to comment on both consultations as their sports clubs may serve residents from both districts.
The consultations focus on opportunities to enhance or improve facilities that are already in place such as adding Artificial Turf Pitches (ATPs), new MUGA (multi use games areas), improvements to village halls/community halls and cycling facilities.
The councils appointed external experts to help identify what was already available, what needed improvements and where new facilities could be introduced in the districts.
Cllr Maggie Filipova-Rivers Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing at South Oxfordshire District Council said: “We really want to hear from people who play sport in South Oxfordshire to find out what facilities matter to them. What’s missing, what’s working ok or what do we need to provide more of.
“We need to work within our budget with the funding available, so by engaging with those who play sport or use facilities in the district on a regular basis this can help us to focus on the key projects we need to be planning and budgeting for.”
Cllr Andy Foulsham, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Policy and Programmes at Vale of White Horse District Council said: “Access to leisure and sports facilities is so important. They help to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents, of all ages and abilities and that is a core priority of ours.
“This consultation will enable us to identify where there are gaps in provision, where improvements can be made and what our residents need for them to live healthy and happy lives.”
The closing date for comments is Wednesday 17 April.*
Once the consultations are completed the Council’s will review the findings and identify which projects need to be approved. They will then work in partnership with sports clubs, town and parish councils, national governing bodies, leisure providers and other organisations to allocate funding and support these projects going forward.
Ends
*New deadline date for comments is Wednesday 24 April – updated 17 April 2024
