Nearly £600,000 allocated towards a new pavilion in Kingston Bagpuize

A purpose-built sports pavilion is being built for villagers and local sports groups in Kingston Bagpuize.

Vale of White Horse District Council approved £596,757 for Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor Parish Council using funds made up of developer contributions, which have been collected by the district council as part of an agreement to build new homes in the area.

(L-R) Cllr David Warr and Cllr Virginia Grant from Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor Parish Council with Cllr Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Development and Infrastructure at Vale of White Horse District Council

The parish council applied for the support fund to build the new facility, which is expected to cost £635,000 in total. The remainder of the funds for the building will be met by the parish council.

Cllr Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Development and Infrastructure at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “It is great to see the new building being built and we’re really looking forward to it opening in the summer. Being able to allocate developer funds towards community projects such as a new pavilion makes a big difference to our local sports clubs to grow and improve, especially with new families moving into the area.”

Cllr Eric Batts, councillor for Kingston Bagpuize at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “It is thanks to the local parish council, community and clubs that the old pavilion lasted for such a long time, but I’m delighted that the new pavilion is being built. The new structure will help the clubs to accommodate and provide even more sporting opportunities in the village.”

Cllr Virginia Grant, Chairman of Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor Parish Council, said: “We are delighted that from 2022 Kingston Bagpuize Cricket Club and Kingston Colts Football Club will be able to enjoy and benefit from the facilities of the new Sports Pavilion. Work on the new pavilion started in December 2021 and completion is expected over the summer. When complete, it will have a new function room with kitchen, together with changing and shower facilities to accommodate both home and visitor teams: a better and larger facility for the benefit of this growing community.”

The old community building on the Sports Field in Kingston Bagpuize has been demolished to make way for the new pavilion. The original facility was an old wooden hut, which was donated by RAF Abingdon about 70 years ago but was becoming too old and in need of repair despite being regularly used by Kingston Colts Football Club and Kingston Bagpuize Cricket Club.

The construction of the new modern building has started and is expected to be finished this summer. When complete, it will have a new function room, a catering kitchen with serving hatch, as well as changing and shower rooms for the sports groups using the building.