THE full picture of what work is needed to bring Witney’s sports grounds up to scratch was laid bare at a meeting of the town council’s leisure and recreation comittee on Monday.

The biggest problem outlined to councillors is outdated changing facilities, which account for £2.2m of the projected £2.6m expenditure required, according to consultants Sports Solutions GB.

Another headache is where the money will come from, when the council has only £450,000 to spend on sports facilities.

Even if it secures the maximum grant available, it would still be short of the sum required by more than £1m – all this at a time when major expenditure is also needed to bring the Corn Exchange back into use.

Councillor Ben Woodruff has said the council could look to give sports groups and clubs that use the ground leases that would allow them to apply to their regulatory bodies for grants.

While this is a satisfactory plan, there is no alternative or back-up plan in place in case this approach fails to work.

More alarmingly, the report, which will now go to the full council, says the size of the town’s population means that it should have another five hectares of playing fields.

But having decided against selling West Witney Sports Ground – which cannot be expanded – and moving to a new site with scope for growth off Downs Road, this is another headache for the council – and the town – which will not be easily rectified.