WORK is about to start on a £2.8m sports village in Bicester, but some of the planned facilities are under threat due to a lack of funding.

A total of six football and rugby pitches and a changing pavilion will be built in two phases, but plans for an astroturf pitch, athletics track and tennis courts at Kingsmere, off Oxford and Middleton Stoney roads, have been put on hold for now.

Sports clubs have welcomed the new facilities, despite the scaled-back plans.

Developer Countryside Properties is in the process of transferring the site to Cherwell District Council.

It is hoped to start work on the first pitches next month.

The facilities will include three full-size football and rugby pitches and three junior pitches. Construction of a pavilion will start next year.

The council has set aside £1.5m for the project and Countryside Properties, which is behind the adjacent Kingsmere housing development, has contributed a further £1.35m.

It is not yet clear who will pay the running costs of the sports complex, but one idea is to set up a charitable trust, which could cost in the region of £60,000 to set up and fund for the future.

Estimated annual running costs range from £10,000 to £53,000, depending on whether all three phases are built. The more facilities, the cheaper the running costs.

Tony Cowles, the vice-chairman of Highfield Juniors Football Club, said: “We’re struggling for pitches and do need more council-run pitches around Bicester.”

He said at the moment many teams had to squeeze into a limited timetable to play on pitches in Sunderland Drive or Pingle Drive.

Alec Smith, Bicester Rugby Club’s coach said: “I think Bicester has been crying out for sports pitches, so they are definitely needed.”

Bicester Town Football Club chairman John Clutterbuck said: “I think any improvement or extra facilities is good news for the town.”

Mr Clutterbuck said his club had recently had problems over a lack of training space while its pitch was being reseeded. But he raised concerns about the prospect of a trust running the site and said he would want to see the facilities open to all residents.

The pavilion will have changing facilities and a social area.

It is likely to be built on a modular basis, so that it can be extended to offer more space if and when funding is available.

James Porter, the Conservative leader on Bicester Town Council said: ”It’s good they’re going ahead with the pitches and with the idea to look at a modular pavilion that can be extended as the village extends.”

Cherwell District Council spokesman Craig Forsyth said: “These facilities go beyond what the developer was required to provide, so Bicester is actually gaining in this process.”

But Labour councillor Les Sibley said: “This only goes some way of meeting the shortfall of facilities.”

An application for planning permission for the first phase of work on the site is due to be discussed by the district council’s planning committee on Thursday, July 14.