Windrush Place Sports Ground

On Monday 15th December at Witney Town Council, Councillors were presented with a proposal to vote through the sub-letting of Witney’s Brand New Sports Facilities on Windrush Place.  Prior to the meeting, we were provided with three days to read an information pack which provided more questions than answers.  The pack provided some interesting financial figures, but lacked evidence as to how the figures came about.  Further details were presented, in person, at the Council meeting.  This included financial data, a business plan (which was pulled apart by Council Officers) and working party minutes. How can anyone make a decision when they have just been presented with this information at the meeting?

Windrush Place Pavilion under construction. Cllr Thomas Ashby gives his thoughts.

Councillors make decisions when presented with the facts - we cannot just be given a pack of information without the evidence, three days before making a decision, then to only be given further information at the meeting.  I think the meeting was unfair on all Councillors.

Anyway, despite that, we needed to make a decision.  But, I had some questions, that I still do not have the evidence for:

• What clubs / organisations have had the opportunity to provide an equivalent business plan?

• When were clubs / organisations invited to submit their business cases for consideration of the Council?

• Was the opportunity widely advertised?  If so, how and where?

• When were local residents on Windrush Place consulted about the running of Windrush Place pavilion?

• What will the lease to WTFC be?  

As a Council, I believe that we should have been provided with the same facts as the working party.  Therefore, I came to the conclusion, knowing a little bit about football in our local area, that Windrush Place is not the right home for Witney Town Football Club. 

WTFC is progressing very quickly, on and off the field, and they require a stadia-facility, or a facility that has the potential to provide that.  I don't think Windrush Place can’t provide that.

The two new adult pitches will be good Witney & District Football League pitches, but that’s all they will be.  Nothing beyond that.  With 60 parking spaces, and a small social space, the pavilion is not what the football club needs.  Eventually, they will need a club-house and sporting facility similar to Clanfield or Caterton.

Ultimately, the pitches and pavilion was voted by other Councillors, to be run by a trust.  However, I do question whether this trust will allow these facilities to be used by the entire community, in the same vein as the rest of Witney’s recreation grounds.

Therefore, for Windrush Sports Ground to work for the residents of Windrush and other various Sports Teams in Witney, the trust must commit, from day-one prioritising the residents of Windrush Place for pavilion bookings. Ensure that pitch fees are capped to meaning they are no higher than those established by Witney Town Council. Furthermore, they must ensure that these pitches be fully accessible to the general public whenever football is not scheduled; Windrush Place deserves the same community rights as West Witney Sports Ground and every other recreation grounds in the area.

While the success of Witney Town Football Club is fantastic for the town, the lack of a transparent, advertised bidding process for the management of the new Windrush Place Sports Ground does raise questions.  By failing to provide other clubs and organisations with the opportunity to apply, and lack of answers to my earlier questions, I do have concerns around the integrity of the decision making process.

Whatever the future holds for the Windrush Place Sports Ground, we MUST all continue to support our Town's football club! UP. THE. BLANKETMEN.