Council proposes £3.5 million investment to improve leisure centres across the district

Councillor Tim Sumner, Executive Member for Leisure and Carterton Area Strategy, said: “We know how important our leisure centres, pools and sports pitches are for local residents. Whether it’s staying active, socialising, or supporting mental health, these spaces play a big role in people’s lives.  

“This investment plan will deliver significant and noticeable improvements across our leisure centres from new changing rooms and showers, redecorating and renovating other facilities. They will be modern facilities of a high quality. 

“This is an investment for the future, making sure our facilities are up to scratch for years to come and protecting them as we navigate the changes due to impact local government.” 

The draft five-year Planned Investment Programme follows detailed surveys of all council-owned leisure facilities, including Windrush, Carterton and Chipping Norton leisure centres, Witney’s artificial turf pitch, Woodstock Outdoor Pool and Carterton Pavilion. The surveys have highlighted key areas needing repair or maintenance, many of which are now due based on the age and usage of the sites.  

The proposed improvements include: 

Carterton Leisure Centre 

• New swimming pool plant equipment 

• Improved Air handling and ventilation machinery 

• Refurbished customer WC’s and accessible changing room 

Windrush Leisure Centre 

• Replacement of old areas of roof 

• Refurbished customer WC’s 

• New swimming pool plant equipment 

Chipping Norton Leisure Centre 

• Complete roof leak repairs 

• Improved shower and changing room facilities for the swimming pool users 

• Replace air-conditioning and ventilation systems in the fitness suite 

To complement these works, redecoration and refurbishment will also take place in a number of public areas including changing rooms, welfare facilities, accessible changing spaces and sports/activity areas. 

The investment would allow essential repairs to be carried out efficiently, helping to avoid costly emergency works or unplanned closures. It would also support long-term planning and improve the value of the sites as the council prepares to review its leisure contracts after 2027.  

Lewis Brain, West Oxfordshire Partnership Manager for GLL said: "We’re delighted to support West Oxfordshire District Council’s investment programme. These improvements will make a real difference to the experience of our customers and staff, ensuring the centres remain welcoming, modern and inclusive spaces for everyone. At GLL, we’re proud to work in partnership with the council to help deliver high-quality leisure services that promote health, wellbeing and community connection across the district." 

Although the Windrush Leisure Centre is an aging facility, as it stands the council does not have the funding available to invest in building a replacement, with the estimated price of a new leisure centre, suitable for the future growth of Witney costing, upwards of £40M. Updating the current centres will ensure good quality facilities while funding is raised for new facilities through payments as part of new developments. Any new facilities would need to be considered by the new unitary council coming in after local government reorganisation takes place in 2028.  

The proposal will be reviewed by the Executive committee on the 10 September 2025.