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Have your say on future of Pontllanfraith Leisure Centre

Posted on : 15 Nov 2023

Have your say on future of Pontllanfraith Leisure Centre
A 6 week consultation focusing on the future of Pontllanfraith Leisure Centre will commence next week.
 
Caerphilly county borough council’s Cabinet has today (15.11.23) agreed to seek feedback from the community on plans to permanently close the facility.
 
The consultation will launch on Monday 20th November and run until Wednesday 3rd January 2024. The council will organise a number of face-to-face and online drop-in sessions, as well as targeted engagement with existing users of the 3G facility and other key stakeholders.
 
In addition, a dedicated web page with frequently asked questions will be launched and hard copies of the survey will also be made available at key locations.
 
Feedback from the consultation will help shape recommendations which will be included in a further report for Cabinet consideration in the New Year.
 
Pontllanfraith Leisure Centre closed its doors in March 2020 and the building was used as a vaccination centre throughout the pandemic. It has not re-opened for leisure use since this time and most former users of the centre have relocated to other facilities in the surrounding area.
 
Significant investment has been made (with further planned) over recent years to deliver modern, fit for purpose sports facilities across the county borough. In particular, a range of impressive new facilities will soon be available at a ‘Centre for Vulnerable Learners’ which is currently being built on the former Pontllanfraith Comprehensive School site. These facilities will include a 4-court sports hall with associated changing facilities and a 3G training pitch, which will be available for community use outside of school hours.
 
“Pontllanfraith Leisure Centre is almost 50 years old and has a maintenance backlog of almost half a million pounds,” said Leader of Council, Cllr Sean Morgan.” I appreciate that closing any community facility can be difficult, but when you look at the huge investment that has been delivered by our ambitious Sport and Active Recreation Strategy over recent years, with more planned, it is clear to see that we have plenty of other modern, fit for purpose facilities available.”
 
“Therefore, we want to seek the views of the whole community as part of a formal consultation process. It is then likely that a decision will be made in the new year once we have carefully considered all the feedback,” he added. 
 
From Monday 20th November, the dedicated web page with links to the survey can be found here: https://conversation.caerphilly.gov.uk/pontllanfraith-leisure-centre
 
A number of face-to-face drop-in sessions will be held as part of the consultation. Residents are welcome to call in for a chat with a member of the council’s engagement team at:
 
Location: Date   Time  
Penllwyn Millennium Centre – Christmas event Wed 6th Dec 2023 6pm – finish 
Elim Baptist Church, Pontllanfraith Tues 28th Nov 2023 5:30 – 7:30pm  
Elim Baptist Church, Pontllanfraith Thurs 14th Dec 2023 5:30 – 7:30pm 
 
In addition, two online drop-in sessions are scheduled as below:
 
Online Tues 28th Nov 2023 12:00-1:00pm
Online Wed 6th Dec 2023 11:00am – 12 midday
 
Residents wishing to attend one of the online sessions are asked to e-mail publicengagement@caerphilly.gov.uk with the preferred date, and a link to attend the online session will be provided.
 
People with any specific requirements such as access, hearing loop, require translation facilities or wish to use the Welsh language at any of the drop-in sessions are asked to contact the team at publicengagement@caerphilly.gov.uk or by calling 07933 174352.
 
More details about the council’s £3million investment in new facilities can be found here: https://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/news/news-bulletin/october-2023/investing-in-your-community

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