Rhuthun/Ruthin leisure centre is in the midst of a £1.3mil redevelopment for which permission was gained in January. It includes an extension, additional customer parking and the creation of a new, full size all-weather pitch. All are so-called "dual-use facilities", shared with Ysgol Brynhyfryd during the school day.
You'd think there was little that was controversial about such a move. As regards the extension and car park, there isn't. It's the full-sized all-weather pitch that has residents of Parc Brynhyfryd exercised, particularly those along the site's flank in Ffordd Cunedda. Here is a row of large, expensive executive-style modern homes that before the development overlooked school & agricultural fields. Well-heeled residents fear after school noise and light pollution from flood lighting on the all-weather pitch. Some opposed planning but were over-ruled. Those who live at the school end of Ffordd Cunedda already have to overlook the bus loading area. More problematic for them, however, is the constant 24-hour drone of the existing swimming pool filtration unit.
Works associated with the all-weather pitch include the construction of an earthen bund to help mitigate Parc Brynhyfryd concerns
The extension is to accommodate a so-called technogym with at least 30 fitness stations, new changing rooms, new pool viewing area and a new, and much more welcoming reception.
The current much smaller fitness suite is only open during school holidays; the new one will be available during schooldays as well. This can only be good news as far as residents are concerned; the council wishes to see a significant increase in membership (there are reportedly only 40 members, about ½ per cent of Rhuthun's population or about ¼ per cent of town plus hinterland). I wonder, though, what the school thinks of members of the public being in such close proximity to pupils.
