BLAENAU Gwent Council has successfully worked with Blaenau Gwent Indoor Bowls Committee to secure a future for the sport in the county borough with a move to Glyncoed Sports Hall.

The facility, next to the former Glyncoed Comprehensive School in Ebbw Vale, will be adapted into an indoor bowls centre – following approval by the Council’s Executive Committee on Wednesday, June 25 and subject to compliancy with the Council’s Community Asset Transfer policy.

The committee will relocate from their current premises at the old Abertillery Sports Centre, following the results of a building condition survey which identified £1.6 million maintenance costs for the building.

Officers from the council’s Leisure Services and councillors have worked together with representatives of the bowls committee to find a solution and, as the result of a recent successful meeting, it was agreed by both parties that moving to Glyncoed was the best way forward.

The cost of moving to Glyncoed Sports Hall, including adapting the premises into rinks, will be met between the Council and the Life Leisure Trust. The facility will then be leased and managed by the committee.

The centre at Abertillery, which set out as a temporary home in 2004, will continue to be used until it moves to Glyncoed sports hall.

The plan is for the centre to be demolished once the facility has been created at Glyncoed. The three rinks indoor bowls facility was created at Vivian Street in September 2004 as a temporary solution.

The Blaenau Gwent Indoor Bowls Club agreed to take on the running of the building around six years ago while the council searched for an alternative home for the club and which saved the council £68,000 at the time.

Cllr Anita Hobbs, executive member for children and active living, said: "The Council recognises that the sport of bowls is important and provides a valuable opportunity to participate in sport and physical activity in Blaenau Gwent.

"In fact, we were delighted to hear just recently that bowlers from Blaenau Gwent will be representing their country at the Commonwealth Games and the World Championships – we wish them all the best.

"We are pleased that we have been able to work positively with members of the bowls committee to find a solution and we hope they will enjoy using their new facility in Ebbw Vale.”