Councillors and protesters clash over the future of leisure centres
TEMPERS flared at a council meeting in a row over the uncertain futures of several leisure centres in Caerphilly county borough.
Councillors, officers and protesters clashed in a heated debate over the proposed sports and active recreation strategy, which could be adopted next week.
Under the proposals, the council would maintain four strategic leisure centres while the remaining seven facilities would be run by schools or close completely.
The decision to approve the strategy will go before cabinet but calls have been made to allow all councillors to have a vote.
The regeneration and environment scrutiny committee met on Thursday to consider the outcomes of a public consultation on the strategy.
More than half of the 711 respondents were against the rationalisation of leisure centres but there was “broad support” for the strategy’s vision to promote healthier lifestyles.
But the meeting, which was attended by around 20 protesters against closing facilities at Pontllanfraith and Cefn Fforest, was told that there was not enough money to “maintain the status quo”.
Mark Williams, interim corporate director for communities, said the aim was “not to get hung up on” individual leisure centres but to deliver a “holistic” strategy to serve the borough’s 180,000 residents.
A major part of the strategy concerns the “ageing” Caerphilly leisure centre, with plans to develop a “strategic sport or leisure tourist attraction of regional or national significance”.
But Councillor Colin Elsbury said: “When I’ve travelled abroad, I’ve never looked at leisure centres in Madrid or Barcelona.
“Unless you’re planning an enormous water park, I can’t see how you’re going to attract tourism.”
In 2017, the council priced up two refurbishment options for Caerphilly leisure centre at £5.1m and £8.9m, with an option for a new-build facility potentially costing up to £15m.
The strategy says a redeveloped Caerphilly leisure centre would accommodate “significant population growth” in the area.
But Councillor Graham Simmonds asked why such funding was not being diverted to leisure centres in their ward.
“Since 2010, more than 4,500 houses have been built or will be built in Blackwood yet we could be losing Pontllanfraith and Cefn Fforest leisure centres,” said Cllr Simmonds.
The three remaining sites – Risca, Newbridge and the facility for Bargoed and Aberbargoed – would also receive investment, though exact costs have yet to be revealed.
Councillor Tom Williams speculated about the Bargoed/Aberbargoed facility and was told that Heolddu leisure centre would fill that role.
But the centre sits on the grounds of Heolddu Comprehensive School which is facing a simiarly uncertain future with a review of schools in the area under way.
Rob Hartshorn, head of policy and public protection, described the strategy’s proposals as “aspirational”.
The meeting also heard that financial proposals for each of the four strategic leisure centres would be subject to detailed business cases and scrutiny.
Cllr Simmonds said he was “amazed” that costs for the entire strategy had not been forthcoming.
Through his own cost analysis, he claimed costs – affected by building inflation, potential borrowing and assuming a new-build Caerphilly centre – would far exceed the estimates made in 2017.
But Mr Hartshorn described Cllr Simmonds’ figures as “completely wrong”.
The stategy will be discussed by cabinet on Wednesday.