Recreation Centre and Old Pool
Health and fitness are important for the people of Blaenavon, how can closing the Blaenavon Recreation Centre be consistent with the Council’s corporate plan which seeks to promote healthy lifestyles?
A number of comments have been made concerning this apparent policy conflict, in that the Corporate Plan makes a very explicit statement about promoting healthier lifestyles, a key feature of which is widely recognised to be improving physical activity opportunities.
This argument has some justification, but it is important to recognise two clear issues: the distinction between physical activity and sport (and within that a particular sport), and the level and frequency of physical activity participation recognised as being necessary to confer a health (as opposed to a social) benefit.
Sport represents a comparatively small part of how people achieve physical activity levels. The Sports Council for Wales now estimate sport as contributing less than 25% of all physical activity, and clearly the figure for individual sports (such as swimming) within this is lower still.
Within any sport or physical activity, in order to confer a health benefit, then activity needs to be carried out for a recognised duration and consistency; whilst all activity is beneficial (and that is the position that the Council is likely to take within the emerging physical activity policy document) there is increasing evidence that effective interventions in promoting physical activity explicitly for population health gain, are more usually associated with altering the day to day living environment (by promoting active travel and regular "activity" opportunities) than by providing specific sports facilities.
Part of the Corporate Plan refers to the importance of workplace and school settings for health promotion, and there is strong evidence of a correlation between educational attainment and current and future health status.
Furthermore, it is planned to replace some recreation in the form of a 2-court hall, a multi-gym and a dance studio, which can be used for a number of activities such as aerobics and martial arts training.
The building proposed will see the loss of a sports hall which is used by the local schools and nursery but also rented hourly to the public for birthday parties, football games, badminton, etc.
The proposal includes access to the leisure hall for community use. There is likely to be adequate provision for room rental for social purposes, and potentially for activities like badminton within any plan. It is worth noting that detail design and choice of provision will form part of an extensive consultation process when the proposals are further developed.
As a World Heritage Town, Blaenavon’s status should be protected.
World Heritage Status has been fundamental in securing and maintaining the town’s important heritage, however, we need to be clear that this is not an argument for promoting "no change". This is simply because the needs of an area 90 years ago reflected a fundamentally different society. Most people, from a much larger population then, had no choice but to walk to access facilities; now it is clear that a very significant proportion of leisure centre users drive to facilities such as those in Blaenavon, or indeed elsewhere.
Where are the Barracudas expected to train?
Blaenavon Barracuda Swimmers Club is currently provided for (albeit on a slightly lower level than previously) and there is an ongoing dialogue to ensure their needs are met as far as possible. Some 88% of the pool time previously used by the Blaenavon Barracudas Swimming Club is now being accommodated elsewhere in Torfaen. In addition, swimming schedules across the Borough have been reviewed.
What about our increased transport costs?
We acknowledge that transport is a key issue for some people in Blaenavon. We will meet the transportation costs of schools when they are taking children to a centre for swimming. We will also undertake discussions with community transport providers to see whether we can encourage them to enhance their provision.
Why can’t we form a Trust and run it ourselves?
The Town Council has suggested the possibility of voluntary operation and/or ‘a charitable Trust’ status, and may make available some of the money needed to investigate this possibility further. Torfaen County Borough Council would assist them in any investigation of the feasibility of this option, however we looked at the possibility of operating all of our centres under a charitable trust over 5 years ago. There are a number of issues that, from our assessment of this option, would need to be addressed, not least that the Town Council or Trust would need to secure some way of raising a six figure budget to operate the pool. It is unlikely that the Borough Council would have sufficient funds, due to competing service pressures, to enable it to contribute.
An independent consultant was employed to determine the cost of building and operating a new pool elsewhere in the town on this basis. His report is available to view on this website.
I’ve read in the papers that the bulldozers arrived at 3am and started demolishing the pool and leisure centre, is that true?
No. The machinery was delivered to the site early, around 7am, on Monday 17 December 2007. Demolition work was undertaken during reasonable hours in the day time.