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.”

New details have emerged of a new tree-lined public square that will replace a traffic dominated junction. v.1
Dyffryn Gardens’ Edwardian rose garden blooms again after decade-long restoration
Barry’s Own Daniel White to Walk 190 Miles Back to Where His Round Table Story Began
1,300 people attend Flying Start Family Fun Day
Dispersal order put in place to tackle anti-social behaviour
Interim Chief Executive Appointed at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Cardiff Theatre Marks 50 Years of Service for Long‑Standing Staff Member
Council to review use of GP letters as evidence for disability claims
Plans have been put in place to redevelop a complex with more than 20 flats
Vale Council Reaccredited Under White Ribbon Scheme as Part of Ongoing Work to Tackle Violence Against Women and Girls
Two Vale Restaurants Among Those Set to Close as Whitbread Shuts Brewers Fayre and Beefeater Chains
Vale Council Issues Safety Warning After Gas Canisters Found in Household Recycling
Cogan Primary School Praised for its Inclusive Culture and Strong Leadership in Estyn Inspection
Senedd Members Call to Tackle Substance Use Stigma
Calls for Welsh Government to Match England's Pub Business Rates Cut
Caerdydd Penarth MS backs campaign to make rail station more accessible
Barry Waterfront Regeneration Project Moves a Step Closer
Age Cymru Responds to VAT cut to household electricity bills
Old Post Office in St Brides Major could be converted into a new house and set of flats