A petition set up to fight proposals to close Pontllanfraith Leisure Centre has garnered over 500 signatures.
Caerphilly County Borough Council has launched a public consultation into plans to close and demolish the leisure centre, claiming the building’s need for “significant” improvement work and facilities at the new Islwyn High School as reasons for its closure.
If the demolition goes ahead, it is likely the council will sell the land for a housing development.
A group of angry residents from Pontllanfraith and the surrounding areas hope their petition can prevent the plans, citing doubts over the validity of the consultation, and claim the authority should be “consider[ing] the long-term goals rather than short term gains from the land sale.”
Huw Darling, from Blackwood, set up the petition as a cricket coach and regular user of the leisure centre.
He said: “The council claim that there are alternative facilities at the new Islwyn High School, but that just isn’t the case. The 3G pitch at Pontllanfraith is the only one approved for competitive fixtures by the Football Association of Wales and the council admits no funding has been approved to build another at Blackwood Comprehensive School, so this essential and very popular facility will be lost completely.
“The council have not made this clear to people during the consultation otherwise there would be uproar.
“Over 90,000 people used the leisure centre facilities between 2016/17, comprising over 40 sports clubs for juniors through to seniors, a wide range of classes and a busy gym.
“The costs of maintaining the centre, including the replacement of the 3G carpet in 2020-2022 will be £518,000 compared to approx £421,000 to demolish it and move services elsewhere, but this does not account for the approximate cost of £500,000 if they build a new 3G pitch in Blackwood Comprehensive.
“The council report suggests that the costs saved by closing the centre, providing they don’t fund a new 3G pitch, would only be around £100,000, so this closure can’t be about money.”
The council’s Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee is set to consider proposals at its meeting on Wednesday, November 1.
Last month, its cabinet agreed to spend a collective £3.1 million to knock down its former offices in Pontllanfraith, as well as Pontllanfraith and Oakdale comprehensive schools – which have been replaced by the recently-opened Islwyn High School.
Mike Rogers, who lives in Risca, set up the Soccer Skills club at Pontllanfraith Leisure Centre over 20 years ago. The club provides soccer coaching classes to children ranging between three and 12-years-old.
He said: “It is likely that our Soccer Skills club will cease if Pontllanfraith Leisure Centre closes. Islwyn High School will be too far for most of our members to travel to, as many simply walk to the leisure sentre currently.
“I am dismayed that the council are taking away services that help our youngsters to learn skills and take part in sport, particularly when they are meant to be encouraging healthier lifestyles.”
Foster carer Alison Alderson added: “The leisure centre is an essential part of the Pontllanfraith community and its closure will have a terrible impact on the children I care for as well as the wider community.
“We visit on almost a daily basis to do sports, classes as well as just catching up with friends and we love it. Switching to Islwyn High School is just not going to be possible.”
The petition ‘Save Pontllanfraith Leisure Centre from closure’ can be found at goo.gl/rbvhPo.
The group’s opposition to the proposals has been echoed by Plaid Cymru councillors.
Blackwood town councillor Zoe Hammond, who lives in Pontllanfraith and has attended public meetings about the centre’s future, said: “Let’s be clear this closure proposal is not about the centre not being well used but the fact the Labour council does not want to invest money in improvements.
“There is a feeling among users that the council has already made its mind up and is just going through the motions with its consultation, trying to show they are listening to people. They’re not.
“The classes at the centre are fully booked and the courts are very popular and these will not all be covered locally if there is a closure. For instance, Blackwood Youth Rugby alone use the 3G pitch three nights week covering ten different age groups.
“Many people will have to travel further afield to access alternative facilities while some may just pack in altogether, particularly those who rely on buses to get around. We are being encouraged to keep fit and exercise and yet the council is reducing the offer to residents.”
Leader of the Plaid Cymru group on the council, Cllr Colin Mann, referenced figures which show a 27% increase in leisure centre usages in five years, adding: “Many people find it difficult to understand why Labour wants to shut a centre which is hugely popular and where there was such a huge increase in use between 2012 and 2017.
“It seems clear Labour see this as opportunity to cash in on a land sale while ignoring the impact on users. It is extremely short-sighted and does nothing to help the healthy living agenda.”
Cllr Nigel George, CCBC Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, responded by reiterating that no decision as to the closure had been decided.
He said: “At this present time the authority’s Cabinet has merely decided to undertake a consultation exercise with respect to the potential closure of Pontllanfraith Leisure Centre and 3G pitch.
“No decision has been taken by Cabinet with respect to the closure and any decision to close the Leisure Centre or not will only be taken once the consultation exercise has been completed and responses analysed.”
The council’s consultation on the future of the centre runs until Friday, November 10 and residents can respond to a questionnaire on the centre’s future at www.caerphilly.gov.uk/involved/Consultations/Proposed-closure-of-Pontllanfraith-Leisure-Centre.