An update has been released on an Oxfordshire town’s controversial football pavilion as work ‘finally reaching the finish line’.
The Windrush Place Pavilion in Witney, which earlier this year caused a football team to speak out, is “reaching the finish line”, according to a local councillor.
Thomas Ashby, who sits on the town, district and county councils, visited the site last week and said he was pleased by what he saw.
The Conservative councillor said: “After several years of developer-led delays, it is great to see the Windrush Place Pavilion finally reaching the finish line.
“This should finally bring a space that is used as a real community hub for the estate, as well as providing a new modern facility for Witney’s sports teams.”
In addition he shared photos of the pavilion, which includes four changing rooms and showers, plus a changing room for officials, and expressed some concerns about the grass which he said was not as other pitches in the town.
Photos taken of the Windrush Place pavilion in Witney in early April 2026 (Image: Thomas Ashby)
A spokesperson for West Oxfordshire District Council added: “We are continuing to work closely with the organisations responsible for delivering the Windrush Place Pavilion and Pitches and look forward it opening.”
Once complete the ownership of the facility will transfer to Witney Town Council.
But its future-use has caused some controversy within the West Oxfordshire town.
In February, the chair of the Witney Vikings Steven Bott said the process for allocating the pavilion was “deliberately tailored to a predetermined outcome” and labelled it a “scandal”.
On the other hand, the town council denied this and made clear the “proposal was considered fully on its merits”.
Photos taken of the Windrush Place pavilion in Witney in early April 2026 (Image: Thomas Ashby)
Mr Bott said he had not been informed about the requirements for the site in particular that the club would need to take overall charge of the pavilion rather than simply use it.
As such the facility will be used by rival club Witney Town FC instead who made clear that it hasn’t been awarded the pavilion, but it will be represented on the Trust board.
Councillor Thomas Ashby at the Windrush Place Pavilion in Witney (Image: Thomas Ashby)
Photos taken of the Windrush Place pavilion in Witney in early April 2026 (Image: Thomas Ashby)
In addition, they praised the way the process was handled.
However, Mr Ashby supported Mr Bott’s claims at the time calling it a “masterclass in administrative opacity” by the council.
He said: “This isn’t just a failure of communication; it is a failure of fairness.”
On the other hand while Witney mayor Andy Bailey sympathised with the Vikings he said he had seen no evidence to support the head of the club’s claims.
He said in February: “I am very supportive of Witney Vikings and hope my sons will be part of the club when they are old enough.”