A major new community area at the centre of an Oxfordshire town is set to open next month.
Courtside, the organisation developing a major new community area at The Leys in Witney, has said they aim to open the facility before the end of May, with its full launch is only weeks away.
For several years the area in the popular park has been under development, with the completed space to include a community café with indoor and outdoor seating, upgraded public toilets and changing rooms and an indoor activity space.
In addition there will be four tennis court and mini tennis courts, covered padel courts, outdoor recreation facilities including for netball and basketball and new LED lighting.
A spokesperson for Courtside said: ”Our aim is to open the hub fully before the end of May, subject to final building control and Witney Town Council approvals.
The former coffee shed which has since been upgraded to the takeaway hatch at The Leys, Witney (Image: Courtside)
“A series of opening events is planned throughout the summer to celebrate the new facilities.”
This update comes after the first phase of the reopening happened on Thursday, April 2, when a redesigned takeaway hatch launched.
It is open seven days a week from 8am to 5pm, with other currently usable features including picnic benches and new table tennis tables.
Councillor Ruth Smith is leader of Witney Town Council (Image: NQ)
The spokesperson added: “These features offer the community an early glimpse of the evolving hub, with further facilities and programming to be announced shortly as the second phase nears completion.”
The project came about after a public survey in 2022 about the hub at The Leys and has been funded by a successful grant application to the Community Ownership Fund, matched by Courtside and Witney Town Council.
The council called it an “ambitious and aspirational new sports hub” and said it represented a “major step forward for Witney”.
A 2025 photo of the canopy for the new padel courts at Witney Recreation Ground (Image: Witney Town Council)
The council has put £250,000 towards the project and said it will provide “top class facilities”.
A spokesperson said: “This significant contribution underlines the council’s dedication to enhancing local facilities and supporting opportunities for sport, wellbeing, and community life.”
They say it will complement the recently upgraded skate and splash parks nearby, as well as the sports pitches, and will encourage healthier lifestyles.
However, despite excitement building for the project, not everyone has been positive about the way the development process has been carried out.
The public toilets at The Leys Recreation Ground which have now closed (Image: Geograph (Creative Commons Licence))
Rosie Jones was shocked to find out that until Courtside is fully open there will be no toilets at the park.
West Oxfordshire District Council closed six of the 13 public toilets it runs at the end of March as it announced refurbishments at other sites including Langdale Gate in Witney.
Councillor Lidia Arciszewska, executive member for the environment, said the decision had been made based on usage data.
However, Ms Jones said she has not been able to find any alternate facilities at the park.
She said: “Surely the toilets ought to remain open until Courtside is fully open. Please can they be re-opened until the new ones at Courtside are fully operational?”