Pentwyn Leisure Centre in Cardiff is expected to have been shut to the public for more than 18 months due to coronavirus.
The leisure centre has been used by the Cardiff Blues rugby team since their usual Cardiff Arms park was off limits, as the Principality Stadium was turned into the Dragon’s Heart field hospital.
Now the leisure centre will also be used by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board as one of three coronavirus mass vaccination centres for a year.
Local Liberal Democrat councillors have highlighted how this means Pentwyn will be left without a leisure centre for what could be the entire duration of the pandemic.
Councillor Emma Sandrey said: “It’s an honour that Pentwyn has been chosen as a vaccination site and it’s exciting that the most vulnerable in our city will be protected from coronavirus so soon.
“However, this does mean our community will be without a leisure centre for even longer.”
Cllr Joe Carter said: “By the end of this, we would have been without a leisure centre for more than 18 months. It’s great we can help the whole city, but we think Pentwyn should be compensated with a refurbishment of the centre and surrounding facilities.
“The centre we get back after all of this needs to be better than the one that was taken away.”
The Blues will continue using the upstairs of the leisure centre, while the health board uses the downstairs to roll out the coronavirus vaccines.
During a full council meeting on Thursday, November 26, cabinet member for culture and leisure Cllr Peter Bradbury, said: “I want to thank the people of Pentwyn for supporting us in using their leisure centre in the fight out of Covid-19 and hopefully back into some sense of normality.
“If we can identify some budget, we will work up plans to discuss with the local community.
“Options we’re currently looking at include a larger, upgraded gym area, improvements to the outdoor pitches, and changes to the pool area to make it better for swimming and for learning to swim.”
