Campaign to save Glan Conwy sports facility

Apr 28 2011 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

Glan Conwy protesters

A POPULAR sports facility which serves the Conwy Valley could be ‘lost forever’ due to funding issues.

Residents in Glan Conwy and all those who use the Cae Ffwt Sports Pavilion and MUGA are being urged by local community councillors to attend a special public meeting to discuss its future.

Although local Cllr Graham Rees, who was instrumental in the creation of the community facility, believes it will remain open, he is keen to gather more public support. He said: “The Sports Association have been very proactive since 1999, but are now finding it difficult to manage the Cae Ffwt facility. I represent Conwy CBC on the Association along with a councillor from Glan Conwy community council. Glan Conwy community council have shown an interest in assisting the Sports Association but the purpose of the meeting is to gauge public interest with a view to recruiting more members to the Association.

“It is my personal view that this community facility will carry on but support from the residents is now needed to ensure a healthy future for a facility the community fought hard to get and maintain.”

Community Cllr Sarah Lesiter-Burgess said she is keen to gather as much public opinion as possible and hopes everyone will attend the meeting tonight at the Pavilion and air their views. She said: “For some time volunteers under the Sports Association group and various other groups including Glan Conwy football club and juniors have tried to keep the facilities financially viable and maintained. However, with increasing costs and the difficulty in raising funds has meant that the Community Council has been approached to look at taking over the management and finances of the facilities. The potential is that these facilities could be lost forever unless something is done now.”

She added: “It was decided at our last meeting that the Community Council would ask the residents of Glan Conwy for their opinions as to whether we should manage these facilities and carry out the necessary upgrade and maintenance.

“The council believe that as it is community money to be utilised then the community should have the right to give their opinion. The facilities will require annual monetary support as well as money, although we are likely to seek grants for some if not all, to repair and upgrade the facilities.

“It is very important that every individual with an opinion on this subject has the chance to advise us before any decision can be made so we're very keen to profile this meeting highly.”

If anyone is unable to attend the meeting they can send their opinion via email- Sarah Lesiter-Burgess: ChrisandSarah_Burgess@msn.com or in writing to: Y Bryn, Ffordd Las, Glan Conwy, Conwy, LL28 5SL.

The public meeting is scheduled for tonight (Thursday, April 28) at 7pm at Cae Ffwt pavilion.