Sir – I am writing in regard to the issue of the Barton Pavilion (Letters, May 13). I totally agree with Ms Pippa Gwilliam regarding the awful state of this building.

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

On viewing the disrepair in this building, I asked my officers to get to work and meet with the Phoenix Sports Association who lease this 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 the mod cons that this building lacks.

It was also not fit for disabled users, due to the access problems.

The feasibility study commenced in April 2009 with meetings with all the Phoenix Association users and the Barton Community Association who support this venture. The Phoenix Association was granted Section 106 funds from the developer when the Fox Public House was demolished and a new development was built. This funding and a grant of £50,000 from the city council has given the project the kick start it needed.

In June, the demolition of the pavilion will start and a new modular building will be put in situ on the same site.

This will benefit the current users and all the residents of Barton who deserve a first-class facility to use in their area.

I hope that this will encourage more youngsters to join the Phoenix Association and take up football and join one of the two clubs which play at this ground. I hope this news will please Ms Gwilliam and the Barton community.

Bob Timbs, Executive board member for leisure and sport, Oxford City Council