Newbridge Field pavilions set for refurbishment and repair
With Welsh Government expected to approve the return of competitive sport later in the year, work will soon begin on the refurbishment and repair of two popular local sports pavilions.
Following the results of independent surveys and after a delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic which required the planned repairs to be rescheduled, Bridgend County Borough Council has commissioned essential building work at the pavilions, both of which are based at Newbridge Fields.
The New Pavilion will benefit from all-new wall cladding, full external decoration and improved shower room facilities, including new tiled floors, while the Bandstand Pavilion is set to receive an enhanced new roof which will be carefully installed so that it does not disturb a colony of bats which has taken up residence in the upper parts of the building.
Cllr Richard Young, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “The Bandstand Pavilion and New Pavilion are in a poor state of repair, but this work is going to support them both while work continues on a long-term plan for Newbridge Fields which has the potential to deliver all-new sports facilities.
“Although the council originally scheduled the work to take place in May last year, we had to rethink our plans as the pandemic began in earnest, and works across a wide range of different council premises and facilities all had to be urgently reprioritised.
“At some point this year, it is anticipated that Welsh Government will allow competitive sport to resume, so it makes perfect sense to carry out these much-needed repairs now while the pavilions are out of use, and to ensure that they are refurbished and ready to welcome players back.”
Funding awarded to Valleys Regional Park Guardians programme
Valleys Regional Park (VRP) has been awarded more than £850,000 for its Guardian Scheme.
In total, £864,051 of funding has been approved by the Rural Development Programme. It follows funding of £981,655 awarded by the Welsh European Funding Office in December to support the ongoing delivery of VRP hosted by Bridgend County Borough Council to the summer of 2023.
This will allow the continuation of the scheme which has seen a team of VRP Guardians, who have a range of expertise in fields such as practical conservation, sustainability and health, lead activities for residents to work on land-based projects and to help protect and restore our valleys landscape.
Guardians will work at the VRP Discovery Gateways, as well as some community hubs, to help local people better connect with the landscape through the development of volunteering opportunities and activities with a focus on skills development, health and wellbeing.
The activities are aimed at a range of ages and will, for example, include activities such as creating community gardens, growing projects, bush-craft, wellbeing walks and many more nature-based activities.
With this funding in place the Guardians will continue to complement the work being done across the VRP partnership to develop new projects which can be replicated across the region and to secure the long-term approach to enhancing and making the most of the superb landscape we have in our Valleys.
Phil Lewis, who is leading on the VRP, said: “The Guardians will help to connect people with the beautiful landscapes around them, the nature on their doorsteps, and also with each other.
“Conservation and restoration undertaken by volunteers, such as a significant contributions to path and bridge repair at Discovery Gateways, or involvement in food growing projects, also brings additional benefits to the wider community.
“Using a whole valleys approach, the VRP is here to promote and celebrate the restoration of our valleys landscape, making sure we bring together the health of the land, the people and the economy in everything that we do.”
The Leader, Cllr Huw David said: “It’s great news that funding has been secured to allow the Guardians to continue their work in helping residents to make the most of the wonderful landscape, natural resources and cultural assets around us.
“The council is very proud to host the VRP and to champion the historic and picturesque towns, villages and landscapes in our Valleys region.”
The VRP partnership involves 13 local authorities across South Wales from Torfaen in the east to Carmarthenshire in the west, the four health boards in the region, Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Government and many other stakeholders from the third and public sectors.
Pyle community recycling centre starting to take shape
Work is progressing at Bridgend County Borough Council’s new community recycling centre at Village Farm Industrial Estate in Pyle.
Groundworks are underway and the concrete yard will be completed during the next few weeks as the development begins to take shape.
The centre, which is expected to open in the summer, will have more vehicle capacity and bypass lanes to allow better movement on site.
A split-level system will be in place in the yard with ramps up to the higher-sided skips and a canopy to protect from the elements.
There are also plans to open a re-use shop at an existing building on the site. It would be similar to the one at Maesteg community recycling centre run by Wastesavers in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council and Kier, where household items that are in good condition are sold on.
Deputy Leader, Cllr Hywel Williams, said: “This new community recycling centre will enable thousands of households to recycle even more of their waste.
“The modern facility will have better access and feature more bays than Bridgend County Borough Council’s nearby centre in Tythegston.
“As part of the development, road safety improvement works are set to be carried out at the Heol Mostyn junction of the A48 in due course.”
Residents are reminded that community recycling centres are currently open daily from 9am to 4pm for essential use only during the alert level four restrictions.
Safety measures are in place and all rules on social distancing should be observed. There are likely to be queues due to limits on the number of people being allowed in at any one time so residents are kindly asked to be patient.
Waste must be separated before arrival and staff are currently unable to help carry items from vehicles.
For more information, visit the council’s community recycling centres webpage.