As some of you may remember, a while ago the Parish Council consulted the village on a feasibility proposal for replacing the existing sports pavilion at Playfield Road.
As a result of this several themes emerged and were considered prior to the preparation of a planning application.
Whilst the application was approved, further development included an initial estimate which, upon consideration by the council, was beyond its purse.
Since that time further work has been carried out to reduce the required capital cost of the project, and these revised proposals were put before the village for its further comment.
These proposals were put to the village in 2024. The details of which can be found at
https://kennington-pc.gov.uk/playfield-rd-pavilion-rebuild-feasibility-study-public-consultation/These revised proposals were submitted to Vale of White Horse District Council for planning approval, which was gained.
Since that time (and admittedly it is some time), the council has been re-thinking a way forward, to lower the costs involved on such a project; seeking advice from its architect as to current costings of the revised proposal and financial advice from Oxfordshire Association of Local Councils (OALC).
Given the sums necessary to carry out a project such as this it will be necessary for the council to borrow a significant sum from the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) – the only source from which the council is able to borrow.
To do this there are several steps to be taken to satisfy the PWLB that loaning the council this money is a good idea.
The first, and by no means the least of these steps is to consult Kennington as to its views, and these are very specific.
1. Are you in favour of Kennington Parish Council Proceeding with the Playfield Road Playing Field Pavilion Rebuild Project
2. Are you in favour of Kennington Parish Council proceeding with the Playfield Road Playing Field Pavilion Rebuild Project if it includes a council tax precept increase of 22% which is the equivalent of an additional £22 a year on a Band D property for the purpose of the annual loan repayments.
As a reminder, and to aid you in your deliberations, particularly for newer villagers, the pavilion at Playfield Road sits on a site in the playing field that was given to Kennington Parish Council for public use by F.A. Sutton Esq. of Coventry and F.J. Minns Esq. of Oxford in July 1962. The original pavilion was constructed soon afterwards and refurbished in 1995 with grant funding from the Sports Council and the National Playing Fields Association.
Over the years the pavilion has been well used, particularly by the village cricket team and 2 Star England Football Accredited Football Club fielding teams in age groups from U7 to U16 together with two men’s teams, and a growing girl’s group. Kennington Football Club is growing from strength-to-strength with it now having a membership of over 300. More latterly with the demise of the Kennington Cricket Club, the council was able to provide a home to the 3rd and 4th teams of Wolvercote Cricket Club – a club without a home to call its own. This is proving to be a very successful alliance.
Sadly, with the passage of time and changing needs, the pavilion is not only dated and needing increasing sums of money to maintain it, but it does not meet the standards expected of not only the people that use it but also the needs demanded in the 21st century.
