Changes set to affect 20 clubs

SPORTS clubs in the Vale of Glamorgan will be asked to pay more to use council-owned facilities – or take ownership themselves.

The Vale council’s cabinet has agreed to amend charges for facilities which are predominantly used by single sports groups.

Changes will affect 20 community groups including football, rugby and bowls groups from April 1 next year.

Further details on how the council can recoup the £400,000 it currently loses every year in running these facilities will be revealed by the council before the end of the year.

The council would also “fast-track” the process for any groups who wish to take on the management of the facilities.

The changes are being proposed as the council considers how to make £17m of savings over the next three years.

In the Penarth area, the changes would affect Penarth Athletic Club (Athletic Field), Belle Vue Bowls Club (Belle Vue Park), Cogan Coronation AFC (Cogan Recreation Field) and Old Penarthians (Cwrt y Vil Playing Fields).

In Barry, the changes would affect Barry Rugby Club (Reservoir Fields), Cadoxton Bowls Club (Cadoxton Bowling Green), Central Bowls Club (Gladstone Gardens Bowling Green), Island Marine AFC (Maslin Park), Millwood Bowls Club (Millwood Bowling Green) and Romilly Bowls Club (Romilly Park Bowling Green).

In the Dinas Powys area, the changes would affect Murch Bowls Club and Dinas Powys AFC (both on The Murch Recreation Ground).

In the Cowbridge area, the clubs affected would be Cowbridge Town Football Club (Bear Field), Cowbridge Football Club (Corntown Playing Fields), Cowbridge Bowls Club (Cowbridge Bowling Green) and Cowbridge Rugby Club (Police Field).

Clubs affected elsewhere in the Vale consist of Rhoose Bowls Club (Rhoose Bowling Green), Rhoose AFC/Cardiff Airport (Rhoose Recreation Ground), St Athan AFC (St Athan Playing Field) and Llantwit Major Football Club (winter) (Windmill Lane Playing Fields).