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Efforts to build a new community hall in Risca are set to be boosted by a £250k grant from the Welsh Government.

The proposed Ty Sign Community Hall and Resource Centre, on the Spar playing fields in Ty Sign, was given planning permission in July 2018, but work on its construction is yet to begin.

It is hoped that construction will begin this autumn.

The community hall would include storage space, toilets and a kitchen.

There have been plans for it to host the 5th Risca Scout Group and the Agape Community Church, which has been based at Channel View Hall in Risca for the last 18 years.

It had originally been planned further along Holly Road but after receiving 200 objections, the proposed development was moved to “avoid any neighbour conflict”.

Colin Dexter, one of the leaders of the Agape Community Church, said: “We visited several modern active community facilities at the start of this project and saw no reason why Ty Sign should not also have a new, light, economic, accessible community facility.

“Like Channel View Hall, it would be available to all and bring new opportunities and possibilities.

“It would also complement the existing spaces at the TLC cafe and St David’s church; providing a breadth of resources to the various groups that require community space.

“We are delighted in the confidence shown by the various funding bodies”.

The £250k grant will come from the Welsh Government’s Community Facilities Fund, while the project has already received funding from the National Lottery’s People and Communities programme.

Welsh Government Deputy Minister Jane Hutt said: “Offering grants like these to community-led projects helps to improve much needed facilities, which play such an important part in the lives of people throughout Wales.

“I want to thank the third sector organisations and volunteers who work so hard within their communities to deliver vital help and support where it is most needed – your efforts are inspiring.”

Islwyn’s Labour candidate in the upcoming Senedd Election, Rhianon Passmore – a former county borough councillor for the Risca East ward – described the funding as “good news for the whole area”.

She said: “A new facility in the heart of the community will be an invaluable asset to the vibrant selection of voluntary groups and activities which take place in Risca.”

Additional reporting by the Local Democracy Reporting Service