‘Running track to be in place by summer2017’
ABERDARE’S old Michael Sobell Sports Centre building should finally be demolished soon – and new athletics facilities are on track to be ready this summer.
The project at the Ynys site has been delayed for some time after the old leisure centre – which closed in October 2014 – was found to have a greater-than-anticipated presence of asbestos, meaning it had to be demolished brick by brick.
In June 2015, it was announced that the project was delayed until 2016, and by September 2015 the council conceded that the project wouldn’t be ready until this summer.
The old Sobell centre still stands stubbornly today – but Rhondda Cynon Taf council has confirmed it will be demolished in time for a running track to be built in its place and in time for the summer season.
A council spokesman said: “The removal of asbestos has become significantly more complex than was originally identified, which has resulted in unavoidable delays in progressing the wider redevelopment of the site.
“Working with the appointed contractor and the Health and Safety Executive, the original processes for removing asbestos have needed to be revised.
“Before work can start on the new athletics facilities, the demolition work must be completed, and the priority for the council remains for this work to be carried out safely.
“Most buildings constructed in the 1960s relied heavily upon asbestos during their construction, and the process for removing this material is a very complex process which needs to be handled in a specific way.
“It is still anticipated that, despite the painstaking nature of the demolition work, providing there are no further issues identified with the former Michael Sobell Sports Centre building, the new floodlit, eight-lane running track will be available during summer 2017.
“The complexities of this specific building have resulted in the unforeseen delays which have occurred in the delivery of these new sporting facilities.”
The athletics track is part of the multi-millionpound Sobell development in Aberdare, which has seen the construction of a new skate park, revamped swimming pool, 3G sports pitch and stateof-the-art leisure centre – which opened when the old centre closed.
Meanwhile, the impressive Aberdare Community School has also been built on site.
The delayed phase eight of the development includes demolishing the old Michael Sobell Centre and constructing a 172-seat spectator stand, changing rooms, a new athletics track and bicycle storage.
The ninth and final phase of the development includes the building of a habitat area and a new public playground.