SWANSEA: Local football gets £750,000 boost for new facilities

This significant funding is poised to make playing football more attractive and accessible to a wider range of people, from existing players to new participants, according to Swansea Council.

The improvements are a joint effort, driven by Swansea Council in partnership with the Cymru Football Foundation (CFF).

The CFF, the charitable arm of the Football Association of Wales (FAW), is the sport’s national governing body.

Community clubs across Swansea are expected to benefit directly from these new, modern facilities, the council has indicated.

Cllr Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, has warmly welcomed the substantial funding.

He believes the investment will significantly boost football’s popularity across Swansea.

Cllr Stevens highlighted the anticipated positive impact on grassroots sport.

“The improvement work on playing field changing rooms at Trallwn Fields, Cwm Level and Ynystawe Park will encourage more people to get involved with grassroots sport,” he stated.

He further emphasised the goal of attracting a diverse group of users.

“Once built, the facilities will be attractive to existing players and many others – including women and girls, amongst whom we’re already seeing huge participation growth across the city – who perhaps don’t play right now,” Cllr Stevens added.

This investment in new facilities is part of a larger, planned £1 million council commitment to upgrading football infrastructure city-wide.

Aled Lewis, director at the CFF, has underscored the foundation’s dedication to inspiring communities through improved facilities.

“These much-needed investments across Swansea will be essential for the growth of the game,” Mr Lewis commented.

He praised the collaborative effort with Swansea Council, noting its importance.

“Through collaboration with Swansea Council, we’re ensuring grassroots players have safe, community-led environments for everyone to enjoy. We’re looking forward to seeing the positive impact they’re going to have once they’ve been completed,” he said.

The council’s new local football strategy, developed with the CFF and FAW, aims to enhance opportunities to play the sport in the coming years.

Key improvements are set to include high-quality, inclusive changing facilities, upgraded to modern standards, as outlined by the council.

These upgrades are specifically designed to ensure the facilities are attractive and accessible to a more diverse group of users.

The sports fields at Trallwn, Cwm Level and Ynystawe are already well-utilised by several clubs and the Swansea Senior and Junior Football Leagues.

Designs for the upgrades will now be created, following council plans.

The work will be subject to planning approval, which includes necessary studies like ecological surveys.

Local clubs have been actively involved in shaping the designs, a process the council has reported.

Once finalised and approved by funders and planners, the designs will be shared with all stakeholders.

Crucially, this grant will also free up council funds, Swansea Council has confirmed.

These freed-up funds can then be used to improve other football facilities around Swansea, including Cadle Mill, at Blaen-Y-Maes, and Bonymaen Park, according to the council.

Free outdoor gym takes root in Trallwn

The redundant play area next to the local community centre has been transformed with an outdoor gym that’s got equipment suitable for all ages and adds to similar kit located at three other parks in the city.

Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet member for Investment, Regeneration, Events and Tourism, said: “The old play area at Trallwn was out of use, so it just made sense to turn it into an outdoor gym that people can use whenever they like completely free of charge.

“Youngsters won’t be missing out either, because 10 pieces of equipment are for them ranging from a multi-gym to a slalom skier and a rower.

“On offer to adults are a walker, a sit-up bench, a pedal bicycle and a sky stepper – all things you’d expect to find in a regular indoor gym.”

Other locations around the city where you can find free outdoor gym kit include Fendrod Lake, Ravenhill Park and Coed Bach Park in Clydach.

The Trallwn initiative is all part of the council’s continuing commitment to supporting families through the cost-of-living crisis and adds to the £2.8m skate park and pump track initiative and the £8m outdoor play areas project.

Andrew Stevens, Cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said: “This initiative demonstrates our commitment to ensuring communities in Swansea have access to safe and exciting spaces for outdoor fun.

“All the experts say how important it is for children to have free access to outdoor play to socialise with friends and family. The feedback we are getting from users has been fantastic and demonstrates what a difference the upgrades make in their neighbourhoods.

“It’s part of our commitment to tackling poverty, supporting families through the cost-of-living crisis and promoting wellbeing in all our communities.”

#CllrAndrewStevens #CllrRobertFrancisDavies #gym #outdoorGym #park #SwanseaCouncil #Trallwn

Swansea Community sports facilities to get £10m boost

Extra investment in the councillor-led Community Investment Fund will see it rise to almost £10m by 2027 for spending on neighbourhood projects that matter to local people.

Under proposals agreed by Cabinet, sports changing places at Cwm Level, Trallwn, Ynystawe, Tir Canol, Blaenymaes and Bonymaen are all set to benefit from funding totalling £3m.

As well as direct support from the council, the funding includes grant aid from a variety of sources and a potential £1m spread over two years from the Cymru Football Foundation.

In addition, the skate parks programme that’s already seen one open at Coed Bach and two more consultations earmarked for Gowerton and Ynystawe, will be boosted to at least £2.9m by 2027. The wheeled sports master plan includes proposals for a roll-out of facilities so that no-one is more than a couple of miles away from their nearest one.

On top of that, councillors will see the Community Investment fund increase by a further £1m so that ward members can invest in a wide range of local assets such as reinstalling woodland paths, extra play equipment and supporting community ventures, to name but a few.

The near-£10m of investment covers the period between 2024/25 and 2026/27.

Rob Stewart, Leader of the Council, said it was further evidence that the council is investing in projects that matter to communities right across the city.

He said: “Coming on top of targeted funding like £8m for play areas across our city, the Community Investment Fund is designed so that no neighbourhood feels left behind or overlooked when it comes to the little things that can make a big difference.

“Residents told us they wanted more play areas that are modern and accessible. So we have delivered more than 60 of them.

“They told us they wanted to never be far from good quality skate parks. So we are delivering a multi-layered network of facilities that create a stage for inspirational riding and make it easy for anyone to take up wheeled sports in their community.

“And they’ve said sports changing facilities need upgrading so they are fit for a modern environment and available to all. So now we are acting on that too.”

He added: “Councillors are uniquely well-placed to know what kind of small-scale projects and initiatives going on in their area deserve a boost from the council.

“By boosting councillors’ community budget schemes to almost £4m in the period between 2024/25 ad 2026/27 we’ll be able to make sure the money goes a long way, making a difference all across Swansea.”

Cllr Stewart said: “The pandemic demonstrated beyond doubt the importance of outdoor facilities to our communities, the wellbeing of young people and families and the value of decent facilities on their doorsteps.

“In the cost of living crisis, we’ve continued to see just how important outdoor facilities have been to groups, families and individuals. It’s resulting in the biggest investment in outdoor community play and sports facilities by the council in more than a generation.”

#BlaenYMaes #Bonymaen #CoedBachPark #CwmLevelRoad #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #TirCanol #Trallwn #Ynystawe

Did my regular walk round #Trallwn #Pontypridd last night, doing #halloween #photography

I'll post the better shots, and then talk a bit about the lens I used on my #Fujifilm #XH2 camera :)

This might be the most elaborate scene in the neighbourhood that's lit at night: