New table tennis tables will be appearing across southern Oxfordshire this summer as part of an initiative to help residents be active and healthy.

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils are working alongside Table Tennis England, the councils’ Didcot Garden Town project team and Didcot Town Council to part fund the tables.

Permanent tables will be popping up in St Edmunds Park, Ladygrove Park and at The Southern and District Community centres on Great Western Park in Didcot . There will also be tables in Kennington, Shrivenham, Chalgrove, Beckley and Stowood. There will also be temporary tables in Benson, Faringdon and Lewknor.

The parishes that now have permanent tables had table tennis groups previously set up in their area. The locations where tables are semi-permanent will be assessed for six months and if they are shown to be popular will also remain in those areas.

All tables except those at the Southern and District community centres in Didcot will be free for residents to use. At the centres there will be a small charge. Table tennis players will need to bring their own bats and balls.

Councillor Maggie Filipova- Rivers, said: “My children will love this, as will I, though I might need to have a bit of a practice. I’m looking forward to seeing residents, young and old, with their bat and ball keeping active and having fun at the same time.”

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