Work Begins On Revamped Tonyrefail Leisure Centre

Work is set to begin next week (16th January) on major improvements to Tonyrefail Leisure Centre, as well as a new 3G pitch for Tyn-y-bryn Park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The investment will see the existing gym moved to the rear of the building in the existing Main Hall while a new purpose build Fitness suite is being created internally plus two new Classrooms. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The construction of the new all weather 3G pitch – which once completed will benefit local sports clubs, the new 3-19 school and the wider community – is also due to begin on 16th January 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

County Borough Councillor Ann Crimmings, Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Culture, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Tonyrefail is the latest community to benefit from investment in leisure facilities through our £200M RCTinvest programme as works on improvements to the leisure centre and on a new community use, all weather 3G pitch get underway. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Previous investments in leisure centres across the county borough have seen a significant increase in Leisure for Life members with residents keen to take advantage of the state of the art facilities and membership benefits on offer. Compared with this time last year, there are now more than 1,000 extra people enjoying unlimited access to gym, swim, indoor sports and a huge range of fitness classes thanks to their Leisure for Life memberships. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We know from our conversations with residents and sports clubs that leisure facilities are a key priority for them and the improvements to Tonyrefail leisure centre and the development of a new 3G pitch demonstrate clearly that we do listen and that we are investing in the areas which matter most to our residents.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The improvement works taking place compliment the ongoing £44M investment in a new 3-19 school for Tonyrefail with pupils from the school set to benefit from the improved leisure facilities upon completion. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

County Borough Councillor Eudine Hanagan, Cabinet Member for Education & Lifelong Learning and local ward member said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“With any project of this size it is important there are also wider community benefits and by linking investment in the leisure centre with the development of the new school we have been able to maximise the impact for the community of Tonyrefail. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The improvements at Tonyrefail Leisure Centre include the inclusion of Physical Education facilities within the Leisure Centre as part of the new 3-19 school development. This will provide the best possible facilities for pupils of the new school to engage in these courses at GSCE and A level. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As well as being able to access improved leisure and sport facilities, the pupils attending the new 3-19 school for Tonyrefail will also benefit from 21st Century standard educational facilities thanks to the £44M investment which is being supported by Welsh Government.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The school is set to open in 2018 and the leisure facilities are set to be complete by April/May this year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As works take place, disruption will be kept to a minimum with gym equipment being moved to the main hall throughout the duration of the works, so customers can continue to enjoy the gym and fitness classes without interruption. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During the construction of the new 3G pitch, the site area will be segregated from the main playing field with the path alongside the pitch restricted to create a safe environment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​