New All-Weather Pitch And Leisure Upgrade For Tonyrefail

A new 3G All Weather Pitch and a refurbishment of Tonyrefail Leisure Centre are to be delivered as part of Council investment in the brand new 3-19 school for Tonyrefail. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This proposal will see Physical Education taught from purpose-built classrooms to be located at Tonyrefail Leisure Centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Plans are now also in place to develop Tonyrefail leisure centre so it can be used by the school and to create a new 3G all weather pitch which will be located next to the leisure centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As part of this proposal the Leisure Centre, which was redeveloped in 2008, will be reconfigured to provide a new protected entrance for pupils to access the facilities including segregated changing rooms during the day, together with new updated fitness facilities for the whole Community. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Eudine Hanagan, Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, said: “Our ambitious plans for Tonyrefail will see new and improved educational and leisure facilities developed which will benefit pupils, staff and the community of Tonyrefail. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Pupils will be able to develop their wider skills, including communication, thinking, leadership and evaluation skills and will be offered more opportunities to become more physically active. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“By building a new 3G pitch and making improvements to the leisure centre we will be developing opportunities for both our young people who attend the school and the wider community to enjoy access to high quality leisure facilities and to realise the benefits of a healthier and more active lifestyle. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Where we have invested in improvements to our leisure centres previously, usage has risen contributing to a more sustainable provision in the longer term and, whilst the primary aim of the new school for Tonyrefail is to support increased attainment and better outcomes for pupils, it is positive that the community in general are set to benefit also. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Possibilities for increasing parking availability are being considered as part of the development of the 3G pitch which would have a positive impact on our town centre and its businesses. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I have always wanted this massive £44M investment to deliver the maximum impact and benefit Tonyrefail as a whole, and by linking the school, through new sports facilities we can achieve this aim. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“In terms of the school and the new educational facilities which will be on offer, our latest flythrough shows just want an inspiring environment our young people will be learning in and our staff will be working in. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This is what the 21st Century Schools programme is all about and we are grateful to the Welsh Government for their support which has enabled us to invest over £100m in recent years on new and improved schools with a further investment, also totalling over £100m, currently being delivered.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Tonyrefail Comprehensive School is on track to re-open, with brand-new facilities, as a 3-19 school in September 2018 as work progresses with the £44m development. Plans for Tonyrefail form part of the Council’s £85m, 21st Century Schools programme for Rhondda and Tonyrefail which is supported by the Welsh Government. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Enabling works on site have begun which will pave the way for the new school, which will accommodate primary and secondary age children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​