The future of play areas, parkland and outdoor sports facilities in Bridgend is being discussed as the local authority launches one of its biggest public consultations to date.
The consultation which ends in July is part of ongoing reviews by the council into play areas, grass cutting and the use of sports fields and pavilions.
Council bosses say that with the local authority facing cuts of £36.4m over the next four years, it can no longer provide the same level of services.
It is asking for more rugby, football and cricket clubs to come forward to discuss the possibility of taking over the running of the outdoor pitches and pavilions they use.
Sports pitches and pavilions
The council has previously warned that if local sports groups don’t come forward to take on facilities – and are unwilling to pay up to five times more than they are now – it’ll have little option but to close facilities.
At the moment sports clubs, individuals and other groups hire pavilion buildings, playing fields and bowling greens from the council.
The council currently provides 40 football pitches, 31 rugby pitches, nine cricket squares and 17 bowling greens.
Historically, the council has provided the services on a heavily-subsidised basis, covering on average up to 80% of costs.
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In the public consultation residents are being asked what they think about sports groups or town and community councils taking on responsibility for the running and self-management of sports pitches and pavilions.
And whether or not a phasing in of price hikes for using the facilities over a number of years would help clubs or groups explore the option of taking on responsibility for them.
Another question involves whether sports clubs or groups who take on facilities should be able to build a fence around the perimeter of the pitch -meaning it can only be accessed by the club in charge.
Play areas
The council provides 108 children’s play areas that contain fixed play equipment such as swings, slides, roundabouts and climbing frames.
However, while some play areas are well used, others aren’t as popular and regularly suffer from vandalism and anti-social behaviour.
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In the public consultation, residents are being asked if the council should continually repair equipment that is frequently vandalised or focus more on improving the more popular play areas.
Grass cutting
The council manages a number of sites and green spaces ranging from formal parks such as Griffin Park and Maesteg Welfare Park to open spaces in housing areas, grass on highway verges, and playing fields such as Newbridge Fields, Llangynwyd Playing Fields and Locks Lane.
But it is now looking at reducing the frequency of grass cutting to save money.
Two options are being considered with residents invited to have their say.
The first proposal involves reducing grass cutting in open spaces and road verges from seven to five times a year.
The second proposal involves reducing grass cutting in parks, playing fields, certain open spaces, housing areas, kick-abouts and children’s play areas from 16 to 12 times a year.
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In some areas the council may stop cutting the grass altogether turning some open space into a “more natural habitat”.
Councillor Richard Young, cabinet member for communities, said: "National austerity is ongoing, and we have been as c
lear as possible with residents about the financial situation facing this and every other council.
“It is not enough to say something is popular or well used anymore – the reality of the situation is that we simply cannot continue to subsidise sport pitches and pavilions to such a level, and also afford the investment required to ensure that facilities continue to meet necessary standards.
“We need to work together to find an alternative way of preserving these valuable community facilities, or risk losing them."
The consultation is open until 10 July and can be completed online at bridgend.gov.uk/consultation
Paper copies and alternative formats are also available by calling 01656 643664 or emailing consultation@bridgend.gov.uk
