Witney football pavilion nears finish amid controversy

TL;DR

Pavilion Nears Completion: Work on Witney's Windrush Place Pavilion is reaching the finish line after years of developer delays.[[1]](https://www.witneygazette.co.uk/news/26023265.update-oxfordshire-towns-controversial-football-pavilion)
Four Changing Rooms: The facility includes four changing rooms with showers and one for officials, but grass quality draws concerns.[[1]](https://www.witneygazette.co.uk/news/26023265.update-oxfordshire-towns-controversial-football-pavilion)
Allocation Controversy: Witney Vikings called the process a scandal, while Witney Town FC will use it and join the trust board.[[1]](https://www.witneygazette.co.uk/news/26023265.update-oxfordshire-towns-controversial-football-pavilion)

The story at a glance

Councillor Thomas Ashby visited the Windrush Place Pavilion in Witney, Oxfordshire, and reported progress towards completion. The project faced delays and controversy over its allocation to Witney Town FC rather than Witney Vikings. This update comes after February claims of unfairness in the process, with ownership set to transfer to Witney Town Council.

Key points

Site visit by Conservative councillor Thomas Ashby last week showed the pavilion nearing completion, with photos shared of the structure.
Facility features four changing rooms, showers, and a officials' changing room; Ashby noted the grass is not as good as other Witney pitches.
West Oxfordshire District Council is working with delivery organisations and expects an opening soon.
In February, Witney Vikings chair Steven Bott called the allocation a "scandal" tailored to favour Witney Town FC, claiming lack of information on full management requirements.
Witney Town FC stated it was not awarded the pavilion outright but will be represented on the trust board and praised the process.
Ashby previously criticised the council for "administrative opacity" and a "failure of fairness"; mayor Andy Bailey sympathised with Vikings but saw no evidence for claims.

Details and context

The pavilion is part of the Windrush Place development and aims to serve as a community hub and modern sports facility for Witney teams.

Delays were blamed on developers over several years, with construction now advancing as of early April 2026.

Controversy centred on clubs not being clearly told they must take overall charge of the pavilion, not just use it, leading Witney Town FC to gain involvement over rival Witney Vikings.

Once finished, ownership transfers to Witney Town Council, which denied any predetermined outcome and said the proposal was judged on merits.

Key quotes

Councillor Thomas Ashby: "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."[[1]](https://www.witneygazette.co.uk/news/26023265.update-oxfordshire-towns-controversial-football-pavilion)
Steven Bott, Witney Vikings chair: The process was “deliberately tailored to a predetermined outcome” and a “scandal”.[[1]](https://www.witneygazette.co.uk/news/26023265.update-oxfordshire-towns-controversial-football-pavilion)

Why it matters

Better sports facilities can boost community engagement and youth participation in Witney, an Oxfordshire town. Local football clubs and residents gain a new hub, though rivalries over access highlight governance tensions. Watch for the official opening and any final disputes over pitch quality or usage.