Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

Libraries and leisure centres across Wales are facing the threat of closure unless immediate funding can be found, according to a Senedd committee.

A report published by the Senedd’s Local Government and Housing committee has said libraries and leisure centres are facing huge pressures due to inflation, rising energy bills and historic budget cuts.

The report says that immediate, as well as long-term funding, is urgently required.

Labour Senedd Member John Griffiths, who is the committee’s chair, described the situation as “concerning” and said: “Budget cuts are causing great difficulty, and this situation needs to be addressed before it gets worse.

“But we cannot pretend that this is a problem that can be solved quickly. Long-term thinking – and funding – will be required if we want to keep these vital public services going.”

Mr Griffiths continued: “We know the huge amount of social value that libraries and leisure centres add to our communities. From computer classes to sports lessons, these places actually save money in the long-run by keeping us happier and healthier.

“The funding they receive should match their contribution to society.”

What is the committee suggesting?

A libraries taskforce is one of the recommendations put forward by the committee.

The committee believes a libraries taskforce could help libraries learn from each other about the best way to run services, as well as to highlight the benefits of libraries and the services they offer.

Meanwhile, the report highlights issues facing leisure centres, such as the fact they were not included in the UK Government’s energy bills discount scheme.

This means leisure centres have been hit by higher energy bills, with heating swimming pools a big drain on the finances.

To help alleviate some of these pressures, the committee has urged the Welsh Government to provide extra funding to help with energy bills.

The report also calls on the Welsh Government to create a long-term strategy with ‘substantial’ funding, as well as short-term solutions, to help leisure centres and libraries work towards becoming greener.

Welsh Government response

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We are doing all we can to protect local services with the resources we have available to us.

“The core funding we provide local government has increased by 7.9% in 2023/2024 to over £5.5bn. This funding can be used flexibly by local authorities to provide services in response to local needs and priorities.

“We thank the committee for its report. We will consider its findings and respond in due course.”