Senior councillors to discuss latest Community Asset Transfer plans

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Senior councillors will meet this week to discuss plans to move a playing field, an allotments, and a bowling club into community ownership.

The sites are all currently council-owned, but community groups are hoping Caerphilly Council’s cabinet will agree to a Community Asset Transfer (CAT) when it meets on Wednesday April 15.

The first CAT seeking the cabinet’s approval is for Bargoed RFC’s main playing field – known locally as ‘The Duff’ – as well as its changing rooms and spectator stands.

The CAT, if approved, would see the rugby club take over the management on a 25-year lease.

The council hopes the proposal will sustain and broaden community access to sport, and support multi-user arrangements with groups such as AFC Bargoed and Heolddu Comprehensive School.

Bargoed RFC currently play in the WRU Premiership – the second tier of Welsh club rugby. The council hopes the club gaining ownership of their field and facilities would place them in a much greater position to pursue external funding, expansion, and operate more sustainably.

The council says is currently costing around £39,600 a year.

The second CAT set to be discussed is the allotments on Lewis Street in Blackwood.  

The proposal is to pass the ownership of the site on to Lewis Street Allotments’ Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).

The allotments have been open since 1934, and have been well used by the community. The proposals would allow the new organisation to invest in the site and improve security and access, and replace the existing unsafe site office.

The council has blamed “challenging financial contexts” for making it increasingly difficult to maintain sites such as the Lewis Street allotments, and believes the CAT will also access to external funding.

The final CAT being proposed is the transfer of the Morgan Jones Bowling Club in Caerphilly town.

A new CIO has been formed by the three clubs playing at the grounds. The transfer would give the new CIO a 25-year lease on the basis that the transfer will secure social, economic, and environmental wellbeing benefits.