Fantastic new athletics facilities in Aberdare are now available to local clubs after the £3m development was handed over to the Council – and it will be FREE to hire for the first six weeks.

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Excellent progress has recently been made to construct a first-class athletics facility as part of the wider £67m Education and Leisure investment in the Sobell Development. The Council has delivered the state-of-the-art Aberdare Community School, the new Sobell Leisure Centre, an all-weather 3G sports pitch and a skate park as part of the huge investment at the Ynys site.

Construction of the new athletics track has recently been completed, along with a new 263-seat spectator stand and changing rooms – which have all been handed over to the Council and are ready for community use.

Pitch markings to the field element of the facility will be completed in due course. The field will cater for field athletics and football matches, which will be dictated by upcoming events and, more generally, the seasons in which the two sports take place. It will initially be marked for an athletics meet and opening festival for the new facility, taking place on October 12.

Up until the opening event, athletics clubs will be able to hire the facility without charge. Hire costs beyond October 12 will be communicated by the Council in due course. Aberdare Community School pupils will also benefit from using the new facility during Physical Education lessons. The facility is also available to individual users at various times throughout the week.

Councillor Ann Crimmings, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Heritage Services, said:

“Over the past weeks and months, the new £3m athletics track has continued to transform, with excellent progress on its construction. I recently visited the completed facility, and it is a fantastic addition to the £67m Sobell site, which presents a number of indoor and outdoor exercise opportunities for residents.

“The athletics facility is one of the best of its kind in South Wales, and will be named in due course. It was recently handed over to the Council and will be free to hire for local clubs until the official opening day on October 12.

“The Council recently announced plans to build an athletics track around the new 3G pitch for Beddau, and to further invest in the existing track in Clydach Vale, which would give the three main regions of the County Borough – Rhondda, Cynon Valley and Taff Ely – a modern athletics facility to enjoy.

“The Aberdare facility will host training sessions for local clubs as well as athletics meets, while the field can also be marked up for football – continuing the past tradition of hosting regional football matches and local cup finals.

“This investment continues the Council’s commitment to improve Leisure facilities, with more than £6m spent in recent years. This includes funding to increase outdoor exercise opportunities, as the Council continues its ambition to build a 3G sports pitch within three miles of every household in RCT. The latest two pitches are being delivered in September 2018, in Porth and Ferndale.”