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A petition has been launched in response to Bridgend council's 'disgusting' decision to raise sports pitch fees by up to five times.

The move has been labelled as 'absolutely disgusting' by local clubs, with fears it will have a devastating impact on the local community.

Comments on the petition raise concerns of the impact the rise in fees could have on mental health, as well as childhood obesity.

Keir Williams said: "Sports in Bridgend is a fundamental part of childhood development, team bonding and friendship making for kids across the borough."

Keir also described it as "daylight robbery".

Adding: "In a time of mental health awareness taking these small privileges away from willing children is awful."

Penyfai FC referred to the decision as: "Absolutely disgusting," in a Twitter post.

Concerns of the impact it could have on player's mental health has been highlighted by 24-year-old local football player for Litchard FC, Charlie Cottrell.

He said that the increased fees will be a strain on most clubs in the area, which may result in higher charges for players which deter them from attending grass roots sport games which are already taking a hit.

"I turn up every Sunday and people are happy to pay £5 to play a game with their mates.

"But that could go up to £30 a week. People just won't pay it and clubs won't be able to afford to carry on," said Charlie.

How much will they have to pay? The council currently oversees 39 playing fields and 40 pavilions, the majority of which are in a poor state of repair. Currently the local authority charges clubs around £55 every time they play rugby or football and use a sports pavilion. From next September they could be charged up to £305 every time. Similarly pitch and pavilion fees for mini-football could increase from £30 on each occasion up to £150. Meanwhile cricket clubs who use council-run facilities could have to fork out £27,500 every season. And bowls clubs could be charged £23,000 a year for use of the green and pavilion.

Charlie, who has played football in his hometown Bridgend from the age of four, said the charges will force a lot of working class people in the area out of playing sports locally.

"It is so important for rugby and football in Wales to have grass roots clubs that can support players from childhood through the game."

"No doubt this will force a lot of local teams out. It is totally not sustainable to ask them to pay this much."

The council’s chief executive Mark Shephard acknowledged the move was “not necessarily popular” but the clubs it was working with largely understood the reasons.

He said the council was taking a long-term view which was supported by Welsh Government and Sport Wales that meant communities would have to do more to meet their own needs – or the public sector would run out of money.

(Image: Charlie Cottrell)

He said: “We could bury our head in the sand and hope none of this happens and the problem goes away but the effect of that is we have already closed five pavilions.”

According to independent councillor, Stephen Blestoe, the decision has been called in for further scrutiny by councillors.

He added that he fears if the charges are brought into place, sports like rugby and football will become inaccessible to working class people in Bridgend.

"We all know we are living in austerity, but the council have gone one step too far with this," he added.

The charges will be seen only as a guide rather than actual costs with fees varying depending on the levels of usage of pitches and pavilliosn.

There is no date set for further scrutiny on this matter.

Grassroots sports for all ages 'will be wiped out' The assistant manager of a football club in Bridgend has warned that a huge hike in charges for outdoor sports facilities – voted through by the local authority – will wipe out grassroots sports for all ages. Simon Brooks from Brackla Football Club said most clubs struggle to meet the costs already in place and he can’t see how any team will be able to continue to play if the charges come into force next September. He said: “The council has a duty of care to ensure there is easy access to sports teams in the area. “Tackling obesity should be a priority, not to mention the mental health of young women and men.” He said the club has two teams in district leagues which means it would need to find more than £600 per week from a group of 40 players aged 16-34 just to play for one-and-a-half hours on a Saturday afternoon. He added: “We share our pitch at Litchard Cross with youth and other clubs who play in different leagues, and we use what is essentially a community hall, which is often booked out for children’s parties. “We have a very close relationship with the Brackla rugby team who are also looking into a community asset transfer so hopefully, we have a chance.”

A new fund will also be set up to help both children and adults from disadvantaged backgrounds to continue to play sport.

The charges are intended to drive forward the transfer of assets, encouraging clubs to take responsibility for the facilities.

The council need to cut around £440,000 from the service budget covering outdoor sports facilities over the next 18 months in order to contribute to the £36m of savings over the next four year.

If you would like to sign the petition, click here.

Officers have previously warned that if organisations do not take on outdoor sports facilities and they don’t pay the increased charges then the facilities will not be maintained for formal sports provision but will instead become public open space.

Newbridge Fields will have its own separate strategy to achieve full cost recovery due to the number of different groups and clubs which use the facilities.

BCBC’s cabinet agreed to delegate the authorisation of the Newbridge Fields strategy once it is drawn up to the cabinet member for communities Richard Young.

Grass cutting

During the meeting BCBC’s cabinet also voted to reduce grass-cutting for roadside verges and open grassland from seven to five times a year.

And in some cases grass-cutting will be stopped altogether.

Officers said it was considered the reduction would “not unduly impact vision splays” in terms of highway safety.

Cabinet members have delegated the decision to Cllr Young to approve any areas where it is identified grass cutting can be discontinued.

Playgrounds

Town and community councils in the county will continue to be asked to take on children’s play areas with officers saying those that aren’t transferred under the CAT scheme could deteriorate with the local authority unable to replace or enhance equipment.

There are around 110 play areas in the county that contain fixed play equipment.

The council says “local ownership” of play areas would “encourage a better response to community needs” and provide a more varied offer to the one available at the moment.



It said there are discussions in progress around transfers of play areas with Bridgend Town Council, Coity Higher and Laleston Community Councils.



However in a scrutiny committee in September councillors warned the public could potentially have to pay more money in the council tax precept if community or town councils took over the running of play areas.