VILLAGERS fear a developer has ditched plans to build 'desperately-needed' sports facilities.

Residents in Kingston Bagpuize rallied behind a scheme for 30 new homes, purely because it also promised a replacement sports pavilion for its cricket and football clubs.

Landframe Developments won planning permission in 2014 before Abbey Developments took over the project.

But members of Kingston Bagpuize Cricket Club were 'devastated' to learn the company has no plans to replace its current shabby clubhouse - potentially due to a council error.

An email sent by the developer's head of land acquisition said: "I'm surprised to hear that the clubs are expecting a new pavilion to be constructed.

"Whilst the previous owners obtained planning permission for a new club house, Abbey do not have either a planning or contractual obligation to build this."

Villagers have lobbied the developer and Vale of White Horse District Council for answers since the email was sent in December.

A district council planning officer told them in an emailed response: "The requirement to provide the pavilion was not included in the Section 106 agreement due to an error."

Section 106 deals set out planning obligations for developers, though the officer insisted they could argue their case because 'the description of development [in the planning application] clearly states replacement sports pavilion'.

Cricket club secretary Simon Watts said it would be 'devastating' for the village if the new clubhouse was not built.

He said: "It feels like the developers have run rings around the Vale. The council's response of 'let's see what happens' seems feeble, passive and reactive."

The Steventon resident, 61, is urging the council to halt building of the homes in Abingdon Road until a deal for the pavilion is struck.

Children's football club Kingston Colts is also based at the clubhouse, but chairwoman Manda Thompson has banned teams from entering the structure due to concerns about its safety.

The mum-of-four said: "It's falling apart, there are holes in the walls and around the windows and burst pipes are a common occurrence. It needs knocking down and rebuilding. We desperately need a new one."

The 39-year-old said villagers 'put in a lot of hard work' to win support for the application, because of the promise of a new pavilion.

She said it was a 'shock and huge disappointment' when the developer rebuffed the plan, adding: "We feel like we've been let down. It feels like we are not important and they are not bothered. They don't care about the kids."

A district council spokesperson said: "The provision for a replacement pavilion in Kingston Bagpuize was included in the planning permission for this development and we will continue discussions with the developer to work towards ensuring it is provided."

Abbey Developments has not yet responded to a request for comment.