I am writing with regard to the issue of the Barton Pavilion as mentioned in your Insider column (Oxford Mail, May 8).

I agree with Pippa Gwilliam regarding the awful state of the building.

As soon as Labour won the election in 2008, I was given the position of executive board member for leisure and sport. My first job was to go and see this building and meet the football committees of Headington Amateurs and Barton FC.

On viewing the disrepair of the building I asked my officers to get to work and meet members of the Phoenix Sports Association who lease the pavilion from the city council.

It was not a difficult decision to get a project started to look at demolishing this building and replacing it with a new sports pavilion with all mod cons.

The feasibility study commenced in April 2009 with meetings with Phoenix members and the Barton Community Association, which supports this venture.

The Phoenix Sports Association was granted Section 106 funds from when the Fox public house was demolished and a new development built.

This funding and a grant of £50,000 from the city council has given the project the kick-start it needed.

This June, work will start on demolishing the pavilion, and a new modular building will go on the site. This will benefit current users and all the residents of Barton who deserve a first class facility to use in their area.

I hope this will encourage more youngsters to join the Phoenix Sports Association and take up football and bowls, which are played at this ground.

I also hope it pleases Pippa and the whole Barton community.

Councillor Bob Timbs

Executive Board Member for Leisure and Sport

Lye Valley Ward

Oxford City Council