Large part of Bryntitli fund will go to help Rhayader rugby club transformation this year

Plans to transform the former Rhayader rugby club building into a multi-use facility have taken a step forward.

Rhayader Town Council, which is in the final stages of securing the asset transfer of the Y Weirglodd site including the former rugby club, has also recently received this year's Bryntitli grant.

The transfer will include The Weirglodd Allotments, Pump Track Wales, Rhayader Town Football Club and its facilities, grazing land, the public car park and the former Rugby Club building and surrounding land

The popular riverside walk will remain under the ownership and management of Powys County Council.

The transfer represents the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Y Weirglodd, ensuring these important community assets are managed locally for the benefit of residents and future generations.

Alongside the anticipated transfer, Rhayader Town Council has successfully secured £83,000 from Powys County Council via the governments Pride in Place Impact Fund to begin the next phase of the site’s regeneration.

The funding will support the development of proposals to transform the former Rugby Club building into a modern, flexible and sustainable community facility capable of serving a wide range of local groups, organisations and activities.

The Council’s ambition is not simply to refurbish an existing building, but to create a welcoming community hub that meets the changing needs of Rhayader and District for many years to come.

At a recent meeting, the town council agreed that a significant proportion of the £52,000 now in the Bryntitli Grant Fund account could be used towards the rugby club refurbishment to supplement other grant funding.

Rhayader Mayor Councillor James Stuart said the grant fund was to improve facilities for Rhayader residents and the rugby club refurbishment would do just that.

Meanwhile town clerk Julie Stephens said she had recently walked around Y Weirglodd area with a Powys County Council officer to discuss the boundaries of the site. She said that will now go to thir legal department to be finalised in the lease.

A gathering of the builders has also taken place at the rugby club when it was agreed that underfloor heating is not needed and solar panels are the way forward. But the clerk said another meeting is needed to pin down the details on heating requirements.

Councillor Rhys Thomas said some residents from Sunnyfield had come to talk to councillors on the site because they are concerned about children playing in the area and the speed of cars and they asked if the council could put in speed bumps and speed signs.

Members agreed to ask Powys County Council if three speed bumps could be put in.