A scheme to turn Caerphilly District Miners’ Hospital into a community centre has taken a significant step forward.
The Caerphilly Miners Community Centre Management Committee was set up last year with the aim of keeping the historic main building open for community use.
Its chairman, Caerphilly AM Jeff Cuthbert, has signed an agreement with Tony Whittaker, chief executive of United Welsh Housing Association to work together to save the main Beeches building.
Caerphilly District Miners’ Hospital will be closed down once the new £172.7million Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr hospital is opened in autumn next year.
Much of the hospital site will be turned into affordable housing but the future of The Beeches building, which was built in 1924, is unclear.
The building was paid for by the miners of the Rhymney Valley after they each put aside 6d out of their weekly wage of 12s 6d to raise the £30,000 needed.
Because of its history and how it was built it is a powerful community symbol and one people want to see kept.
The management committee has also recently presented their case to Caerphily County Borough Council’s planning officers for a community centre at the site to be included in the authority’s Local Development Plan – a blueprint for the area’s future.
You find out more about the committee and its work in trying to save The Beeches at its third coffee morning on Saturday June 5 at the Twyn Community Centre in Caerphilly town between 10am and 12.30pm.
For more information visit the committee’s website at www.caerphillymcc.weebly.com or its Facebook group.
