The group hoping to transform the historic Caerphilly Miners’ Hospital into a community centre once its closed as a working hospital has taken its first step to becoming a registered charity.
The Caerphilly Miners Community Centre Management Committee was set up in 2008 with the aim of keeping the historic main building open for community use.
It recently applied to become a Company by Guarantee and following the approval of the application it will then be able to apply to become a charity an important step in securing funding.
The committee has already carried out a feasibility study into the plan, which had positive results, and has also signed a partnership agreement with United Welsh Housing Association.
The hospital being used as a community centre has also been included in Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Local Development Plan – a blueprint for future development –
Jeff Cuthbert, Caerphilly’s AM and chairman of the committee, said: “I am really pleased with the progress that this committee has made since it was formed in early 2008.
“We have all put a lot of work into this project and now it is really starting to come to fruition.
“I very much look forward to chairing future meetings of our Company by Guarantee and I would encourage any member of the public with extra time or an interest in the building to contact us and become a member of our charity.”
Caerphilly District Miners’ Hospital will be closed down once the new £172.7million Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr hospital is opened in autumn this 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.