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Sports centre's future still undecided

Wednesday, 28 May 2025 22:23

By Ted Peskett - Local Democracy Reporter X @TedPeskettNews

Residents and park users are still waiting answers on what will happen to a Barry sports facility that’s seen as being “well beyond” its lifespan.

Vale of Glamorgan Council’s 'Live Well' scrutiny committee met on Tuesday to discuss the future of the Buttrills and Colcot sports sites.

Five months ago, the council announced it would not be able to follow up on its proposal to upgrade Colcot Sports Centre due to a number of reasons, including a lack of funds.

Cllr Ian Johnson, leader of the Plaid Cymru group, requested that the matter be considered at Tuesday’s scrutiny committee meeting, fearing the issues would be “kicked into the long grass”.

The Buttrills ward councillor said the sports centre was now 60 years old and “well beyond its lifespan”.

Last year, a public consultation on the council's plans for Colcot Sports Centre found that the preferred way forward was a refurbishment of the existing facility.

But in December 2024, it was announced that the cost of the scheme had risen significantly.

Cllr Johnson said: “In 2021, the boiler [of the Colcot centre] was condemned because of safety concerns."

“It is a dark and grim building which has barely changed since I first set foot in there, playing [football] back in the 1980s."

“It is certainly not the modern 21st century building you would expect with a sporting hub for Wales’ largest town, nor is it a welcoming environment for girls and women’s football.”

Labour councillors, Cllr Belinda Loveluck-Edwards and Cllr Emma Goodjohn, added their voices to calls for answers on the future of Colcot Sports Centre and the Buttrills and asked what efforts the council would make to secure funding from external sources.

However, councillors were left none the wiser on how soon residents could expect progress on improving facilities in both areas.

Dave Knevett, operations manager for healthy living at Vale of Glamorgan Council, said Colcot Sports Centre was beyond its life expectancy and called it “embarrassing” at a council meeting in December 2024.

Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting, he again recognised a need to improve facilities.

Mr Knevett said the council had been in discussion with potential partners for future projects at the Buttrills and Colcot sites, including the Cymru Football Foundation, but was unable to give further details on a timescale for future plans.

He added: “I can’t give specifics in terms of where we are. There are various deadlines in terms of grants."

“We do need to do some more consultation in terms of the site and we are eager to do some local consultation, bearing in mind the…comments that came from the community with the original proposals."

“It’s important that local needs are taken into account as well as the needs of the sports that will be provided at these facilities.”

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