WITNEY’S tennis club officials say they will not pay the rent unless the courts are resurfaced.

The threat was made during a meeting about sports facilities in the town.

A report has been prepared about the future of the facilities.

And Witney Lawn Tennis Club chairman Chris Pyne says he is now concerned that it will mean cash meant to be spent revamping their courts may never arrive.

The report – which was discussed in private at a town council meeting – is due to be made public in the coming days.

But Mr Pyne is angry that the meeting about the report was not held in public in the first place.

He said: “We were told this report was going to be discussed at this meeting but it was instead held privately.

“We are keen to work with the town council but if work does not happen then we will hold off our rent.”

A working party meeting was held immediately before the town council’s leisure and recreation meeting but members of the press and public were not allowed to attend.

The council agreed to spend £28,000 resurfacing the courts in March last year, but this has yet to happen.

Councillors have now agreed to invite members of Witney’s sports groups to a part of a meeting, which will last a day, to hear their thoughts on the report before it makes any decisions.