Plans for a revamp at a Barry leisure facility labelled “embarrassing” have been put on hold due to a lack of funding.
At a meeting in April, Vale Council officials said changing facilities at Colcot Sports Centre had fallen into disrepair and were in need of being replaced.
More recently, the council said a public consultation found that the preferred way forward was to refurbish the existing facilities.
However, the cost of the scheme has risen and although there is a grant application still active for £500,000, this is still short of the funds needed.
Buttrills Playing Fields is across Colcot Road from the changing facilities at Colcot Sports Centre.
One councillor said at a scrutiny committee meeting earlier this year that she spent years as a parent having to navigate between Buttrills and Colcot for twice weekly football sessions.
“It is time I will never get back,” said Cllr Belinda Loveluck-Edwards.
“I have witnessed the chaos of parking, the children refusing to use the facilities…and having to deal with wet bedraggled boys with nowhere warm, safe or accessible in which to change, but my son had that chance unlike girls of his age who were rarely seen on the pitch.”
Vale Council’s cabinet member for leisure, sport and wellbeing, Cllr Gwyn John, said it was a “great disappointment” that the current changing facilities continued to cause concern.
He added: “It really will affect the playing of girls and women’s football in the town of Barry."
“Initial evaluation of the site and buildings has been undertaken with the objective remaining to provide quality sport facilities.”
The council’s operational manager for neighbourhood services and healthy living, David Knevett, said of the current changing facilities at the council scrutiny committee meeting in April 2024: “The current building at the sports centre is beyond its life expectancy and frankly from a women and girls’ perspective…are embarrassing.”
The current changing rooms opened in 1963. Around £500,000 of funding, if granted, would come from the Cymru Football Foundation.
Vale Council submitted another grant application to Sport Wales for a pump track, but this was rejected for financial reasons.
Cllr John said: “Quite honestly, unless we get new changing rooms in the near future or not too distant future…the football teams in Barry will have no changing rooms and that is what we have got to really take into hand.”
Council leader Lis Burnett told a cabinet meeting last week: “It is disappointing."
“It is a shame that these days we, in order to develop schemes…have to stitch together all sorts of sources of funding and if some of those sources fall by the wayside it can make the whole scheme unsustainable."
She added: “We will continue…to look at how it can be delivered.”
Is your hot water bottle safe?
Solicitor sentenced for defrauding Cancer Research UK
Cate is crowned champion!
WATCH: Winner of The Voice UK Cate McHugh duets with Sir Tom Jones
Barry filmmaker takes her documentary to the big screen in New York
Pupils leave their mark on new school at steel signing event
£3m refurbishment plans revealed for Cowbridge Town Hall
Penarth RNLI shop volunteers recognised for decades of service
Cardiff’s National Museum in need of £46m for urgent repairs, says Amgueddfa Cymru chief executive
A bid to bring a “vibrant new type of offer” to Llantwit Major promises to provide “artisan food and drinks” to the area
Legacy Leisure invests £120,000 in new gym equipment at Penarth Leisure Centre
New Wellbeing Hub planned for adult day services in Barry
New hygiene waste collection service to be trialled in Barry
Bro Radio celebrates triple Gold success at the national Community Radio Awards
This Halloween dressing up pets might be more trick than treat
Warrants connected to illegal bike use see 11 arrested
Officers given additional powers following King Square anti-social behaviour
Historic Llantwit Major Town Hall clock restored after 15-year effort
New QR codes let residents report overflowing bins across the Vale
