Fresh concerns over reduced hours at leisure centre

A councillor has raised fresh concerns over local authority plans for Cefn Fforest Leisure Centre, which was previously earmarked for closure and now operates under reduced hours.

Cllr Nigel Dix, who leads the independents in the Caerphilly County Borough Council chamber, said he had learned the leisure centre’s swimming pool is being kept warm around the clock – even though it is only open for four hours a day.

He called the situation “the economics of the madhouse” and repeated previous fears the council could eventually argue the centre should close for financial reasons.

The council’s cabinet member for leisure rejected the claims and said there would be “no closure of Cefn Fforest Leisure Centre”.

Cllr Dix, however, questioned the rationale behind limiting people’s access to a pool that is maintained at the right temperature for swimmers.

He said the council should be trying to increase its takings by opening the leisure centre for longer.

“It’s only open for four hours a day while the pool is heated 24/7,” he said. “They should be opening it as much as possible.”

Figures obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request show monthly visitor numbers at Cefn Fforest Leisure Centre fell in the months after the decision to cut the site’s opening hours.

There were slight drops in visitor numbers in June and July last year, when compared with 2024 figures, and much sharper decreases in August, September and October – when between 4,000 and 7,000 fewer visitors attended the centre, compared with the same months a year earlier.

Cllr Dix said he was concerned the council was “setting it up to fail” and would “ultimately argue it costs too much money” to run.

Cllr Chris Morgan, the cabinet member for leisure, said the decision to reduce the site’s opening hours had instead guaranteed its future, after decision-makers reviewed their plans for fewer leisure centres.

“In May 2025, cabinet members were asked to look at the full closure of Cefn Fforest Leisure Centre to save £500,000 per annum,” he explained.

“After listening to feedback from local members and the [public] consultation, the closure was withdrawn and the option of a saving of in excess of £200,000 per annum – by reducing the hours of opening the pool – was agreed upon.

“This has now been actioned and there will be no closure of Cefn Fforest Leisure Centre.”

New Tredegar Leisure Centre’s opening hours have also been cut, and cabinet members agreed last year to continue with a plan to shut down Bedwas Leisure Centre after a new Leisure and Wellbeing Hub – worth an estimated £38 million – opens on the outskirts of Caerphilly town.