A series of modernisations and refurbishments at the popular sports hub, based off Hithercroft Road in Wallingford, has culminated in the refurbishment of its clubhouse.

Earlier in the year, the sports park’s main toilets were modernised, the AstroTurf pitches resurfaced, and funding secured to redo the clubhouse bar and main hall.

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The ‘vibrant’ new space was inaugurated on Saturday, August 1, with an open event encouraging people to try out the new facilities and see what the sports park has on offer.

Manager Matthew Bowden-Ford said: “We’ve got a nice fresh look for our main bar area and main hall, as we just needed to modernise.

“The space was in need of a bit of a redesign and funding became available from the local council to make it happen.

“With a busy space like this, we’ll always have other hopes and dreams with a refresh of the facilities, so this won’t be the last work we’re doing.

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“But we want to get across that the clubhouse is here for anyone to come and socialise and enjoy, you don’t have to be a member of a club, a sports team or the sports park, and we’re open to all.

“We’re very much a community hub and we’re here for everyone to enjoy.”

Wallingford Sports Park is run by the Wallingford Sports Charitable Trust and hosts eight sports club and many community activities and events throughout the year.

SGN has completed the works and left the site ahead of its anticipated finish date of Saturday, August 8.

This means Botley Road should be on schedule to reopen to traffic on Sunday, September 20.

Engineers found three minor leaks in the ageing metal gas main during drainage excavations in July, forcing another delay to the long‑running road closure.

Botley Road has been shut to motor traffic since April 2023 to allow an overhaul of Oxford station, including new platforms and better walking and cycling links.

Roadworks in Botley Road (Image: Frank Dumbleton)

Works were initially expected to last for 12 months, but once completed will have taken more than three-and-a-half years.

The leaks added up to six weeks to the newly advertised August 31 reopening while SGN replaced a section of pipe beneath the road.

The works, which were initially supposed to finish in October 2024, were hit with setbacks throughout, including the discovery of a Victorian arc and a grenade from the Second World War.

Businesses and residents alike endured 1,260 days of disruption since its closure, including 24-hour working, but also being cut off from central and east Oxford.

Oxford West and Abingdon MP, Layla Moran, previously wrote to the Transport Secretary demanding answers and requesting an urgent meeting. 

She described the delays as “calamitous and catastrophic” for local residents and businesses.

But, SGN said the work was vital to prevent future disruptive repairs and to keep gas supplies safe and reliable.

The new Botley Road walkway (Image: Andy Ffrench)

Now the main has been upgraded, Network Rail is responsible for finishing work under the bridge and around the station.

The cost of repair work has risen from £161m to £237m, and it is understood that the western entrance project has not yet been fully costed.

Meanwhile, there is uncertainty about when the Oxford traffic filter scheme will start, and the congestion charge will end.

The traffic filters, originally approved in 2022 but held up by the initial closure, were set to replace the congestion charge on September 14, but have been postponed again by the repeated delays.

Oxfordshire County Council transport boss previously told the Oxford Mail it will consider its traffic filter trial and announce the start date at the “earliest opportunity” once it has “absolute certainty” of its opening.

The 51-year-old presenter launched her new BBC Radio 2 breakfast show at the beginning of July, taking over the primetime slot between 6.30am and 9.30am from Scott Mills who was sacked earlier this year.

Since then she has hosted numerous high profile guests, the first of which was American star Tom Hanks who appeared on her debut show, which was well received by critics.

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The Independent gave it five stars, and reviewer Rachel McGrath commented: “As first shows go, Cox surely couldn’t have hoped for better.”

One of her latest guests was Grammy Award winning singer Sam Smith.

As well as speaking about Smith’s new single ‘Oh mother’, they also discussed sexual identity.

Entertainment Daily UK reported that Ms Cox said all mothers want a song written about them.

Sam Smith (Image: Ian West/PA Wire)

“Especially queer kids, gay kids,” said Smith, “and their mums have – well at least I have a very strong, beautiful relationship with my mother”.

Cox then said: “I’m proudly one of them by the way, with a queer daughter.”

Ms Cox has three children – two daughters and a son – and several people responded on social applauding her message.

One user said: “Everyone should be able to live the life they are happy and comfortable with.”

Another added: “Let her be what she wants as she will be loved the same way,”

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Others questioned why Ms Cox needed to bring her daughter’s identity into the chat with Smith.

Though she has never lived in Oxfordshire, Ms Cox is linked to the county having supported Bicester-based charity Auditory Verbal.

Ms Cox was involved in an appeal for the organisation in 2018, when it was featured on television.

Unfortunately, earlier this year, the charity collapsed with a spokesperson citing “an increasingly challenging and turbulent environment”.