Council lowers price hike for sports pitches after backlash

New fees for outdoor grass sports pitches have been confirmed in Caerphilly after an original 75% hike sparked an angry backlash.

Caerphilly County Borough Council cabinet members unanimously agreed to the new pricing system at a meeting on Wednesday May 21, when officers said the new rates were in line with neighbouring local authorities.

It means bookings for senior football, rugby and cricket pitches will be “set at the average” for the region, and represent a smaller increase on last year’s fees than the 75% hike put forward earlier this year.

All-weather pitches are not included in the policy.

For example, booking a grass pitch and pavilion for a senior football or rugby match cost £64.87 last year, and then increased by 75% to £113.53 – but now the council has reduced that to £76.81 for the rest of the financial year.

A cricket pitch and pavilion match booking cost £74.54 last year and rose by 75% to £130.45 – but will now be set at £88.69 for the rest of this year.

Youth and junior outdoor pitch fee bookings will all rise in price by 15%, cabinet members agreed.

Cllr Chris Morgan, the cabinet member for leisure, noted there had been “low responses” to the original consultation on the 2025/26 budget proposals – but the subsequent implementation of the pitch fees had sparked a “significant” reaction from residents, clubs and councillors.

Sports clubs may also be offered the chance to take on the running of some pavilions, in a further council bid to save money.

Green spaces manager Michael Headington said £600,000 of the council’s £1.6 million annual spending on its outdoor pitches went towards opening, closing and maintaining pavilions.

But the money collected from bookings means the council “loses money”, he told cabinet members, adding self-management agreements for pavilions had been successful in other council areas.

“It’s good to be empowering our communities in that regard,” Cllr Sean Morgan said.