WITNEY Town Council has decided to sell a popular sports and social club to fund a £7m project to build new facilities further out of town.

Councillors this week backed a proposal to sell West Witney Sports and Social Club and its facilities, in Burford Road, to developers.

And following talks with the council, users of the existing site are more optimistic about the idea.

Revenue from the sale would be used to buy land next to Witney Lakes Golf Resort, in Downs Road, and build new sports facilities.

The current landowners at Downs Road would be the likely buyer of the West Witney site, which could be used for up to 120 new homes.

The specific details of the deal have not yet been worked out.

It is hoped that the Downs Road site will feature an indoor netball and tennis hall, four floodlit tennis courts, four floodlit netball courts, a cricket pitch, social club, rifle range and 10 football pitches, two floodlit.

The current site has seven unlit football pitches, four tennis courts, a cricket pitch, bowling green, rifle range and a sports and social club. It is hoped cash from the sale could also be used to improve other sports facilities in Witney, including The King George V playing fields, The Leys, and Burwell Meadow, as well as provide a fund for their future upkeep.

The Oxford Mail reported two weeks ago that clubs using the Burford Road site had concerns about the development, including the future funding of the project and the safety of children at the new facilities, which, if the plans go ahead, would be located next to a busy industrial site used by lorries.

But members now feel more optimistic, largely because of a meeting with town councillors. Martyn Stacey, who represents some users, said: “This is one of those occasions where it is necessary for the clubs and the council to be able to work closely, and if we do we stand a much better chance of getting something we both want.”