THE closure of the paddling pool at The Leys last year seemed to be yet another sign of the dilapidated state of many facilities in Witney.

It came on top of the mothballing of the Corn Exchange on safety grounds in 2011 and the long-running dispute over the resurfacing of the tennis courts at West Witney Sports Ground.

So we are pleased to report, for the second week running, that real progress is being made towards getting things back in shape.

The town council’s splash park working party and members of the Liven up the Leys campaign are to be congratulated for their hard work developing ideas for the park and other new attractions for the recreation ground, and then setting to work raising funds in what remains a difficult economic climate.

The £75,000 grant from Wren that we report on today’s front page takes the project a big step closer to becoming a reality and we hope that West Oxfordshire District Council will look favourably on an application for £50,000, which could see it become a reailty.

After last week’s news that the tennis courts are now spick and span, we look forward to being able to report a positive outcome to efforts to bring the Corn Exchange back to life and make it central to the life of the town once again.