TENSIONS were high at a drop-in session held over the future of the Colcot Centre where families concerned for local sports provision in the Vale came face-to-face with the council.
On one side, local residents want the Colcot Centre to be refurbished and restored to former glories of years gone by – as far as the 60s when the centre was a hub of local sport in town.
One the other side – Vale Council has plans to knock down the old Colcot Centre and turn much of the land over to housing provision while building new sports facilities at the Buttrill’s playing field.
At the drop-in session, held on April 18 at the centre, Stephen ‘Josey’ Jones told us: “It has always been here. I used to play here. The amount of families who use this facility. It is a place where we do not need houses.”
Another local resident, Matthew Case, said: “I want the plans at the Buttrills to be put here. It needs to be here. Everyone is here at Colcot, not at the Buttrills.”
Andrea Giles, who lives by the Colcot Centre, told us: “We do not want to lose anymore green space.
“I do not want to see any more houses on this road.”
Andy Bevan, who started an online petition to try save the centre from the bulldozers, said plans and stated results - such as better changing facilities - do not add up.
“They (the council) are reducing changing rooms. They say it’s about making sport accessible, however there is just one accessible toilet in the plans.
“I do not think (the plans) have been well thought out. I do not think (the council) have fully explored refurbishing the building.”
Vale Council has described “ambitious plans” to “upgrade” the sports facilities in the Colcot and Buttrills area of Barry.
At the Colcot, they say they will build a bike “pump” track, together with a new playground and potentially a multi-use games area.
Read more on the Colcot Centre:
- Protest held over plans to turn Barry sports centre into housing
- Council commend report to knock down Colcot Sports Centre
At the drop-in session last Thursday, Councillor Belinda Loveluck-Edwards emphasised plans are at the proposal stage and the council wanted to encourage debate and listen to the “community voice”.
“I understand there are so many connections with the Colcot Centre,” said Ms Loveluck-Edwards.
“It is important for us as a Vale Council to put in place suitable facilities to increase women and girls football, accessible football, elevate cars left on curb sides at the Buttrills and safeguard green spaces.”
What do you think? Want to see the Colcot Sports Centre retained? Is it an unsave-able eyesore that needs to go? Did you use the Colcot Centre in the past? Will you miss it? Do the new plans excite you? Do they provide better sports provision in the area?
Let us know in comments, on our Facebook page, or email harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.
Got a story in Barry? Email harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.
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