Council statement on Merthyr Tydfil Leisure and Cultural Services

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council has agreed to work with Wellbeing Merthyr to facilitate a managed end of the existing contract for the Local Authority’s Leisure and Cultural Services by 31 March 2024, which will see the various facilities return to the council.

Due to the end of the current arrangement with Wellbeing Merthyr and being proactive in the need to safeguard leisure services, in January 2024 the council had no choice but to go out to the leisure sector to find an alternative provider to manage the newly refurbished Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre for an interim period. This exercise resulted in three well-established leisure providers applying for the interim ‘Leisure Operations Contract’ to manage Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre.

Following the Covid-19 pandemic Wellbeing Merthyr spent a year presenting a number of redevelopment options for Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre, all of which were deemed not adequate for a facility of that size and scope. This resulted in the council deciding to take the lead, securing finance from Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns and Salix funding programmes, as well as commissioning Alliance Leisure to design and manage a fit for purpose redevelopment of the facility.

As of February 2024, the swimming pool facility has now been handed back to the council. Following mandatory testing, recruitment and safety training, the council, in conjunction with the new provider, will be in a position to inform residents and the general public of the official opening day.