Countdown to Fairwater cuts (From Free Press Series)

Countdown to Fairwater cuts

4:40pm Monday 13th July 2009

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A CWMBRAN playgroup will close as part of measures by Torfaen council to save money.

The council has come up with a set of measures which it expects will save it £45,000. This includes closing the free playtot group which runs at Fairwater Leisure Centre four mornings a week.

The playtot group, which was formed about 15 years ago, will finish in October. The two members of staff who run the group have been offered other job options.

Judith Harrison, who runs the group, said the news is disappointing and sad.

Ms Harrison said the number of people coming to the group has dropped in recent months and can be anything between 12 and no children at all each day.

The space created at the centre will be used by Fairwater High School next door.

The council says Fairwater Leisure Centre is well used on Monday to Saturday but is under used on Sundays. It has therefore decided to close the centre on a Sunday entirely.

The centre’s swimming club and Blades canoe club will lose their Sunday sessions and the council is in talks with the two groups about alternative arrangements.

The opening hours of Cwmbran Stadium’s cafe will be reduced each day by two hours, leaving it from 12pm to 9.30pm.

It was previously suggested the cafe close altogether and staff be placed on temporary contracts. But this new measure means all members of staff can keep their jobs.

The council’s executive member for regeneration, Cllr Richard Clark, said more and more people are using the main facilities at Pontypool Active Living Centre and Cwmbran Stadium.

Cllr Clark said these measures, which will come into effect in October, will save an estimated £45,000 from October 2009 to the end of March next year.

He said that although some people will be made redundant, all are being offered alternative employment at other facilities in the borough. He said staff are being offered support and help from unions and the council.

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