Controversial plans to close up to seven of Caerphilly County Borough’s leisure centres will go out to public consultation, after the council’s cabinet approved the move.
Under the ten-year strategy leisure centres in Pontllanfraith, Cefn Fforest, Bedwas, Heolddu, Trecenydd, Ystrad Mynach and New Tredegar could close with provision being concentrated on four sites in Risca, Caerphilly town, Newbridge and the Bargoed/Aberbargoed area.
The council say the ten-week consultation, beginning on July 16, will aim to take all views on board – but some councillors have raised concerns about the process.
Independent councillor Kevin Etheridge, who represents Blackwood, called for the council to hold a public referendum vote on the future of leisure centre provisions.
He told a recent meeting of the regeneration and environment scrutiny committee : “Everyone needs to have a say, a voice and a vote on this decision. We have to have a level playing field.”
But deputy leader Councillor Sean Morgan said: “When you have a referendum, you can only ask a single question.
“There is a far broader spectrum to this strategy – it’s not just leisure centres. You’ll get a lot more information from a consultation than a referendum.”
Cllr Etheridge also asked why the strategy had not been discussed by the council’s health and wellbeing and education for life scrutiny committees prior to the consultation process.
The strategy suggests that centres on school sites could be taken over by the relevant schools, but Labour councillor Tom Williams said: “If [schools] decide to say they can’t take this on, that’s what will happen.”
Jeff Reynolds, sport and leisure services facilities manager, told cabinet on Wednesday that the council would write to each school about the strategy before the end of term.
The meeting also heard that the consultation would involve drop-in sessions and physical copies of the strategy at all the council’s public buildings.
“This the most extensive consultation period this authority has articulated outside the budget process,” said Mr Reynolds.
Labour councillor Barbara Jones, another of the authority’s deputy leaders, added: “We cannot in these austere times continue to run the services we have done historically.
“I think we’re all aware things have got to change, and how they change will be up to the people who live in this county borough.”
Why carry out a consultation when the decision has already been made. Its a disgrace and proves how under handed this council is. Saying they would not close any to now closing up to 7. Caerphilly council you have a lot to answer for.
Residents can no longer trust anything this council tells them …….
No we can’t , however this council knows only too well that it makes not an ounce of difference what they say or do because as long as night follows day the fools will vote them back into power again and again.
People dont vote for their policies they vote Labour because parents voted labour and their grandfather and some cases great grandfather before them. They vote Labour because its a family tradition.
The Hereditary vote will ultimately be the death of Wales, this country has already fallen behind the rest of the UK it will only continue to get worse as Welsh Labour bid to keep the Welsh population firmly where they want them.
Whats the alternative? Surely not the racist Plaid Cymru