Multiple leisure facilities in Pontardawe are to be transferred to the local council by April 2023.

Management of the leisure services, as well as several others across Neath Port Talbot, are to be transferred to Neath Port Talbot Council to be managed in-house by April of next year.

Previously, the facilities had been managed by Celtic Leisure, but councillors agreed a plan back in February 2022 to regain management of the leisure services.

Particularly in Pontardawe, the leisure services which are to be transferred to Neath Port Talbot Council are Pontardawe Swimming Pool and Pontardawe Leisure Centre.

Councillors heard the update at the most recent meeting, held on the evening of Thursday, July 28.

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Neath Port Talbot Council’s cabinet member for climate change and wellbeing, Cllr Jeremy Hurley, welcomed the report, saying: “There will be a number of benefits to existing staff – the majority of them being local residents - who will have the security of transferring into the council’s employment.

“The council will also have full control of leisure centres and other facilities allowing for a more coherent approach to opening hours, service delivery, fees and charges, ensuring our leisure offer helps reduce inequality and improves our residents’ health and wellbeing.”

The full list of facilities to transfer are:

  • Aberavon Leisure and Fitness Centre
  • Neath Sports Centre
  • Neath Leisure Centre (along with the new Neath Leisure Centre opening in 2022)
  • Pontardawe Swimming Pool
  • Pontardawe Leisure Centre
  • Vale of Neath Leisure Centre
  • Gwyn Hall
  • Port Talbot Bowls Hall
  • Aquasplash Aberavon Beach

Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Cllr Steve Hunt, added: “We are pleased with progress on what is a complex handover process. Our aim is to make these centres of leisure and exercise part of the solution to local public health improvement.

“Investing in the facilities and working with our NERS (National Exercise Referral Scheme) and PASS (Physical Activity and Sports Service) teams it will put the centres at the heart of post-Covid recovery and future wellbeing planning.

“Also, bringing leisure services back in-house reflects one of the coalition’s key priorities - adopting a fresh approach to leisure, tourism, culture and heritage.”