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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Plans for new Bridgend skate park to begin this year
Plans to develop a new skate park in Bridgend county borough have been revealed by designers at Maverick Skateparks. The plans were published by the specialist skatepark company for the site that will be created at Brackla Ridge Playing Area near Bridgend later this year. The local council will now work with the UK-based company, which specialises in the design and installation of spray concrete skateparks, over the coming months. READ MORE: Woman 'fuming' after walking to top of Yr Wyddfa only to see 'p*** take' on summit READ MORE: Crash shuts multiple lanes of M4 near Bridgend Artists impressions show how the finished park, based around two miles from Bridgend town centre, could eventually look once completed with features that include a series of ramps, jumps, and rails along with a new seating area. The site is understood to be replacing an existing skatepark facility that opened in 2000 and closed in 2022 after it reached the end of its economic life. It will be funded by Bridgend County Borough Council with a value of £250,000. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Speaking at a recent full council meeting the leader of Bridgend Council, Cllr John Spanswick of Brackla West Central, said the work at the site could now begin by the autumn. He said: 'I'm delighted to see that final plans have been revealed for the replacement skate park facility at Brackla and they will be a high-quality development which will reflect feedback from residents and users. 'This has been developed in partnership with Maverick Skateparks and construction is scheduled to begin in the autumn. 'The artists impressions for the site are hugely impressive and reflect our ambition and commitment towards providing young people with modern leisure facilities.' Cllr Spanswick also gave updates on the local authority's ongoing refurbishments to children's play areas across the borough which he said was almost half covered. This scheme will eventually see a total of 98 play areas across Bridgend county refurbished and updated with modern play equipment once completed. The update also followed the announcement that funding worth more than £400,000 had been secured by Bridgend council to restore an artificial sports pitch at Bryntirion Comprehensive that was described as being at the end of its life.
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Plans for new Bridgend skate park to begin this year
Plans for new Bridgend skate park to begin this year It will replace an existing facility that was closed in 2022 How the new Brackla skatepark could look once completed (Image: Maverick Skateparks) Plans to develop a new skate park in Bridgend county borough have been revealed by designers at Maverick Skateparks. The plans were published by the specialist skatepark company for the site that will be created at Brackla Ridge Playing Area near Bridgend later this year. The local council will now work with the UK-based company, which specialises in the design and installation of spray concrete skateparks, over the coming months. Artists impressions show how the finished park, based around two miles from Bridgend town centre, could eventually look once completed with features that include a series of ramps, jumps, and rails along with a new seating area. The site is understood to be replacing an existing skatepark facility that opened in 2000 and closed in 2022 after it reached the end of its economic life. It will be funded by Bridgend County Borough Council with a value of £250,000. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here The closed skatepark that is set to be redeveloped (Image: Bridgend County Borough Council) Speaking at a recent full council meeting the leader of Bridgend Council, Cllr John Spanswick of Brackla West Central, said the work at the site could now begin by the autumn. He said: 'I'm delighted to see that final plans have been revealed for the replacement skate park facility at Brackla and they will be a high-quality development which will reflect feedback from residents and users. 'This has been developed in partnership with Maverick Skateparks and construction is scheduled to begin in the autumn. 'The artists impressions for the site are hugely impressive and reflect our ambition and commitment towards providing young people with modern leisure facilities.' Cllr Spanswick also gave updates on the local authority's ongoing refurbishments to children's play areas across the borough which he said was almost half covered. Article continues below This scheme will eventually see a total of 98 play areas across Bridgend county refurbished and updated with modern play equipment once completed. The update also followed the announcement that funding worth more than £400,000 had been secured by Bridgend council to restore an artificial sports pitch at Bryntirion Comprehensive that was described as being at the end of its life.
Wales Online
26-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Council reports underspend at end of financial year despite continued pressures
Council reports underspend at end of financial year despite continued pressures Officers said the figure was boosted by Welsh Government grants that "significantly masks" underlying budget pressures Bridgend County Borough Council have reported a net underspend on their budget for the 2024-25 financial year. The report came at a full council meeting in June where members heard how there had been net under spend of £300,000 from their annual revenue budget, which has since been transferred to the council fund. Those in attendance reacted positively to the news, though acknowledged that the figure "significantly masks underlying budget pressures" due to Welsh Government grants that were awarded late in the financial year. The saving came from a total revenue budget of £360m which is used by the council to cover its day-to-day cost for running essential services such as waste services, schools, and social care services. Despite the overall underspend the report highlighted that there was still a net overspend of £2.37m from directorate budgets with continued pressures seen in areas such as home to school transport, children's social care, and additional learning needs services. It added that the main reasons for the underspend was because of "unanticipated" Welsh Government grants of £3.2m towards the teachers' pay award and a further £2.024m to go towards revenue cost pressures. Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here . We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice Article continues below Elsewhere the authority saw a £1.5m reduction in the overall insurance fund liability after a number of claims were "repudiated or discontinued" with additional council tax premiums on long-term empty properties and second homes boosting council tax revenue by £611,000. The majority of this sum came from long term empty properties, though the report said if these premiums hadn't been collected the expected council tax income would've fallen short by £99,000. Officers in attendance described the 2024-25 financial year as being "complex" when it came to managing the overall budget position, in a situation that was reflected across all local authorities in Wales. They also said they would have to continue to work hard in the coming year in order to keep spending within the allocated budget, highlighting a shortfall in targeted savings of just over £1.5m. Speaking at the meeting councillor Hywel Williams of Blackmill said the report would now go back to councillors for a further scrutiny session this month. The council's leader John Spanswick added that despite an increase in demands things were "going in the right direction". Article continues below Councillor Ross Penhale Thomas of Maesteg West said with budget pressures being felt right across Wales the council should continue to lobby for multi-year funding settlements for local authorities as this would allow them to better plan ahead and think long-term. For the latest Bridgend news sign up to our newsletter here.
