Caerphilly Observer
Member Sign in | Become a Member - no adverts Manage My Membership | Log out
Menu
  • News
    • Business
    • Opinion
  • Sport
    • Rugby union
    • Football
  • Membership & Subscriptions
  • Notices
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Sponsored Content
Menu

Football ground plans will not go ahead, council says

News, Sport | Rhiannon James - Local Democracy Reporting Service | Published: 16:46, Monday July 18th, 2022.
Last updated: 09:04, Tuesday July 19th, 2022

Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £3 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

The land where Caerphilly Athletic and Caerphilly Castle Ladies want to build a new ground
The land where Caerphilly Athletic and Caerphilly Castle Ladies want to build a new ground

Caerphilly County Borough Council has said current plans to develop Virginia Park will not go ahead, following opposition from residents.

Two football clubs in Caerphilly want to create a new ground in Virginia Park, including stands, changing rooms and public toilets. This would allow Caerphilly Castle Ladies and Girls Football Club and Caerphilly Athletic FC to progress as clubs.

Both teams came together to form the Virginia Park Community Group, and submitted an expression of interest in Virginia Park as the proposed location for Welsh Football League (WFL) approved facilities.

But, Virginia Park residents have opposed the plans, stating they are “dead against” the football teams’ proposals.

A spokesperson for the council has now confirmed that the plans are not going to go ahead in their current form.

In May 2022, a public meeting was held where the football teams announced their plans to submit a Community Asset Transfer (CAT) request for the field.

Caerphilly Castle Ladies FC
Caerphilly Castle Ladies FC

A CAT happens when a public sector body, such as the council, transfers the management and/or ownership of a property asset to a community council or community group.

This means the community council or group that take on the asset would be responsible for running it and maintaining it.

The council has confirmed that Virginia Park is listed as a site as part of the Community Asset Transfer (CAT) programme.

Morgan Jones ward councillor Shayne Cook has said he is backing the residents, and added: “On this occasion during the public consultation it was apparent that there was no support for a development of any kind on the site.

“I cannot support a proposal to remove two well used community playing fields for one cordoned off pitch.”

Fellow local councillors Jamie Pritchard and Anne Broughton-Petit are also against the proposals.

Caerphilly Athletic and Caerphilly Castle Ladies want to build a ground on the Virginia Park, south of rugby ground
Caerphilly Athletic and Caerphilly Castle Ladies want to build a ground on the Virginia Park, south of rugby ground

Labour councillor Cook said: “There is no doubt that as an authority we seek to empower community groups and the CAT model is just one example of how we do that, however this has to be balanced with the needs of the entire community.”

A council spokesperson said: “Enquiries into a CAT at Virginia Park had been made by three groups prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, closing the process down in March 2020.

“An expression of interest in a CAT for Virginia Park was submitted earlier this year by a newly-formed Virginia Park Community Group – a third sector group formed by representatives from two of the three clubs that had expressed an interest previously.

“The applications have to follow due process set out by Welsh Government. Part of that is to engage with the community, on this occasion the public consultation documents differed from what was discussed with the authority and the community have not responded in favour of the development.

“We believe the CAT model can work where there is community appetite for proposals.”

A meeting is being held this week between council officers and the football teams.


Latest News

  • Welsh international stars came to visit Caerphilly Dragons Girls FC earlier this week
    How a kickabout in a park turned into one of Wales’ largest girls’ football clubs in just three yearsFriday, August 12, 2022
  • care stock image
    £500 unpaid career support applications to reopen next week, minister confirmsFriday, August 12, 2022
  • Councillors have called on NRW to investigate the destruction of a bluebell field near Llanbradach
    Destruction of Bluebell Woods raises questions over planning and wildlife lawsFriday, August 12, 2022
  • Hill Farm Solar Park is on a 19 hectare site at Penrhiwarwydd Farm, Mynyddislwyn
    Solar farm extended for an extra 15 yearsFriday, August 12, 2022
  • Rotary club members Reverend Trevor Morgan and David Ellis collecting food to donate to Rhymney Valley foodbank
    Rotary club pledges to support foodbank as cost of living crisis worsensThursday, August 11, 2022

Sign up to our daily newsletter



Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £3 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts.

Become a member today

LDRS
Caerphilly Castle Ladies
Google

Do you want to become a community reporter?

REGENERATION: The new taskforce has been set-up to help the South Wales Valleys

Find out how the communities of Caerphilly County Borough get their names

Caerphilly
© 2009-2022 Caerphilly Media Ltd, Britannia House, Caerphilly Business Park, Van Road, Caerphilly, CF83 3GG. Incorporated in Wales No. 07604006.