£180,000 investment to improve public park
A PUBLIC park in Mountain Ash will soon have improved facilities including better tennis courts and a new skate park after grant funding of £180,000 was secured.
Gwernifor Park in Mountain Ash will also have a new Multi Use Games Area (known as MUGA) and its derelict paddling pool re-opened during for a period in the summer holidays next year.
The grant has come about after plans to improve the area were developed by an environmental group led by residents, and supported by ward councillors Andrew Morgan and Simon Lloyd, as well as Communities First.
Coun Morgan said the funding has been secured from Entrust, under the landfill tax scheme funding for community projects.
Work will start on site in the week commencing Monday, November 11, and is expected to be completed by February 2017 – subject to reasonable weather.
Coun Morgan, councillor for Mountain Ash West and leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf council, said: “Over the last year the lo- cal environmental group has been working with the council to develop exciting plans for Gwernifor Park and the facilities available for young people.
“Almost 400 young people that use the park and over 100 adults were asked during the consultation earlier this year what they would like to see improved at Gwernifor Park and I am pleased that this funding will enable those plans to be delivered.
“The £180,000 of external grant funding, which the group has successfully secured, will make these exciting plans for young people a reality at Gwernifor.
“The plans for the park, include the redevelopment and renewal of the existing skate park, which is currently in a poor condition and the creation of a new Multi Use Games Area. The improvements will also include the renovation and renewal of the tennis courts area.
“I am very pleased this funding will also allow us the opportunity to explore the feasibility of re-opening the paddling pool under community management, something I am keen to see happen, and I will be working closely with all those involved to hopefully make this happen for summer 2017.”
During September, rumours that Gwernifor Park would be offloaded by the council were started when a public notice was issued in the Cynon Valley Leader – saying the local authority “intends to dispose” of the land.
But, Coun Morgan moved to say the notice “led to a little confusion,” adding the council “categorically” does not intend to sell the land.
At the time, he added: “Unfortunately the legal jargon used in the public notice has led to a little confusion and some people believing areas of the park are to be disposed of - this is categorically not the case.
“Far from disposing of any areas of the park, the intention is for these areas to be leased to the Environmental Group as part of the plans being developed for the benefit of young people in the area.”