Leisure facilities set for £3.5m revamp

Windrush Leisure Centre in Witney will undergo refurbishment as part of the scheme

Plans to invest £3.5m in local leisure and sport facilities have been proposed by a local authority.

West Oxfordshire District Council said the funding for the facilities would "make sure they are fit for the future".

Under the proposals, Carterton, Windrush and Chipping Norton leisure centres would all undergo extensive refurbishments.

Councillor Tim Sumner, leisure chief, said the plans were "an investment for the future, making sure our facilities are up to scratch for years to come".

Among the improvements, redecoration and refurbishment would take place in public areas, including changing rooms, at all three sites.

More detailed repairs, individual to each centre, would also be carried out.

"This investment plan will deliver significant and noticeable improvements across our leisure centres from new changing rooms and showers, redecorating and renovating other facilities," Mr Sumner said.

"They will be modern facilities of a high quality."

The council said the improvements would "ensure good quality facilities are protected for residents" ahead of the upcoming reorganisation of local government.

Announcing the scheme, the authority also said it did not have the estimated £40m required to build a replacement for the "ageing" Windrush Leisure Centre in Witney.

"Updating the current centres will ensure good quality facilities while funding is raised for new facilities through payments as part of new developments," it added.

The council's executive committee will review the plans at a meeting on Wednesday.