Community welcomes new all-weather sports pitch

Members of community groups in Bryncethin, pupils at Ysgol Bryn Castell and The Bridge Alternative Provision have been enjoying new and improved outdoor facilities.

The site has been used by the school, PRU and community for many years but the age and condition of the all-weather pitch meant it could no longer be used.

But after a £246,000 investment from Bridgend County Borough Council, with support from Welsh Government’s play sufficiency capital investment programme, The Bryncethin Campus now boasts a state-of-the-art 3G floodlit training pitch.

The project also included refurbishment to the fencing, upgrading of the floodlighting to lower energy LEDs and new sets of goalposts. Other facilities including the sports hall and activity studio have also been made available for community usage by the local authority.

Helen Ridout, headteacher at Ysgol Bryn Castell, said: “Sport and physical activity is of great importance to young people and enables them to develop healthy lifestyles and self-regulate their behaviour and emotions, while keeping active

“These are high quality facilities which will continue to motivate our pupils and enable them to participate in a wide variety of physical activities throughout the year.”

The site supports a range of organisations including Bryncethin RFC, Valley Ravens, Garw SBCG, Bryncethin Tang Soo Do, Bryncethin Shotokan, Bridgend Jujitsu, Bridgend Roller Derby, Spanish Soccer, Bridgend Town Cricket, Tondu United, Bridgend Bolts, Bridgend Senior and Junior Netball League, and a range of activities including rugby, football, fitness, netball, martial arts and even roller derbies.

Joe Powton, of Tondu Football Club, said: “Having the facility available to the local community is absolutely fantastic.

“Having the all-weather option allows more sports to go ahead in adverse weather conditions which is something that is much needed within the county.

“As a club we have had over 300 children enjoy the use of the facility over the summer and it’s given us something for us to aim for as a club as we look to secure our own venue.”

Adam Carpenter, of Spanish Soccer Schools, said: “The new 3G pitch at Bryncethin is immaculate.

“It will bring so much to the community and surrounding areas and no doubt it will be booked up pretty quickly. We recently used the 3G pitch for our summer camps and the kids absolutely loved using it as well as the coaches.”

It is fantastic to see that Ysgol Bryn Castell as well as a wide range of sports clubs are making use of and enjoying the new all-weather pitch.

It will serve as a wonderful facility the whole community can make use of to stay active and healthy.

Councillor Dhanisha Patel, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Future Generations