14-05-2025
Caerphilly residents 'devastated' as libraries set to close
People have expressed concern after the "devastating decision" was made to close libraries and leisure centres in a Welsh council said it was facing a £29m budget gap over the next three years meaning "financial challenges" were a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, a local resident told councillors the closures amounted to "shutting down opportunities, connections and hope for the future".It comes after Welsh government ministers drew up plans last year to prepare for the possibility that some councils could go bust.
Ten libraries will close across the borough at the end of August under the cost-cutting of the public shouted "disgusting" as they left the council chamber, with one resident adding that it would "take away" opportunities from young the decision, Caerphilly council said it would set up hubs based on a pilot model in Jamie Pritchard said the library staff had seen an "almost doubling" of people visiting since the change.
Larger hubs will open in Bargoed, Blackwood, Caerphilly and Risca meanwhile smaller hubs will open in Newbridge and Ystrad library closures are expected to save the council £507,000 Caerphilly branch secretary Lianne Dallimore said it was a "very sad day" for added the decision taken by the Labour-run council had "left the door wide open for Reform" at next years Senedd election.
Leisure centres have also been impacted but councillors have compromised on plans following "robust" Fforest and New Tredegar leisure centres will remain open, but with reduced the leisure centre in Bedwas will close when a new site opens in Caerphilly £38m project is expected to be completed in Beynon, who uses Cefn Fforest leisure centre, said the facility had "profoundly shaped" her added that the facility was a "sanctuary for countless families in our community".The council's deputy leader Jamie Pritchard defended the proposals adding that the cuts were shaped by "reducing budgets coupled with a large number of ageing sites".He said the council understood that the changes would be "difficult" for those that use the council currently operates more leisure centres than any other local authority in Wales.
Have other councils been affected?
The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) has warned that funding shortfalls could "significantly impact" councils' ability to deliver essential BBC has identified a budget shortfall of at least £540m across Wales by council saw a 4.5% rise in its funding following the latest announcement from the Welsh council leaders argued at the time that they were concerned that more was needed to prevent essential services from Audit Wales report recently warned that the financial position of local government was "unsustainable" in the medium-term unless action was taken.
