Outdoor sports facilities in Neath Port Talbot that have failed to be taken on by any community groups or sports clubs are being turned into open space as the local authority looks to cut costs.

Neath Port Talbot Council began its transfer of bowling greens, tennis courts, and outdoor sports pavilions and fields to community clubs in 2016.

But not all the facilities have found groups willing to take on leases meaning some have been lost as the council turns them into general open space.

A report on the future of various sports facilities went before councillors at a recent council meeting.

Over the last couple of years officers say a total of nine tennis courts across the county have become areas of open space with three bowling greens also being decommissioned.

A Neath Port Talbot Council spokesman said: “There are a number of hard surface areas throughout the county borough which used to be used for tennis, and these are now areas of open space available for informal general use by members of the public such as for kickabout, exercise etc.”

Below are the facilities which have been leased and lost.

Vivian Park, Port Talbot

The sports pavilion and field was initially leased to a local sports club who subsequently withdrew from the lease – since which time it has remained vacant.

Council officers say a procurement exercise was recently undertaken with three organisations who expressed an interest in leasing the sports pavilion and field at Vivian Park and as a result a lease has been offered to a local sports club.

However the tennis courts which are not currently in use will become a fenced off area for general use.

Officers say the land use is subject to restrictive covenants and is therefore not suitable for commercial development

Talbot Memorial Park, Port Talbot

The sports pavilion and sports field were originally leased to Taibach RFC, who have since surrendered the pavilion part of the lease.

The sports pavilion is now leased to a local football club.

However the tennis courts which are not currently in use will become a fenced off area for general use by the public and again.

Local bowling clubs have leased one of the bowling greens in the park but have told officers that they will not be leasing the second green.

Officers have said as there is no interest from community groups leasing the second green, its existing perimeter fence will be removed and the area incorporated into the general open space within the park.

The land use is subject to restrictive covenants and officers say it is not suitable for commercial development.

Dyfed Road, Neath

A lease has been issued to a local tennis club to cover the four courts at Dyfed Road.

But while one bowling green within the park has been leased to local clubs the second green will be turned into general open space.

While the land is not subject to a restricted covenant officers say alternative use other than open space within the park would not be feasible.

King George V Playing Fields, Pontardawe

The tennis courts which are currently not in use will be turned into general open space due to a lack of interest from community groups to take on the facilities.

Parc Y Werin, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen

The tennis courts are currently not in use and will remain as a fenced off area for general use.

Neath Port Talbot Council holds the leasehold for the land with Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation having the freehold.

It is a condition of the lease that the site is used for public recreation use only.

Parc y Darren, Ystalyfera

The tennis courts are currently not in use and officers say they are in a poor

state of repair.

There is a restrictive covenant limiting the site’s use to a public recreation ground.

However officers are looking into whether an alternative use is feasible with the covenant holder and will report back to councillors.

Ynyscorrwg Park, Glyncorrwg

The bowling green at this site was originally leased to the local bowls club but the club has since disbanded and  surrendered the lease.

While there had been hopes of getting a local organisation to take over the

area as a family-friendly community area, this has not happened.

It will be become an area of open space within the park.

Court Herbert Sports Fields, Neath

At Court Herbert there are three football, one rugby and two mini football pitches which are leased to local sports organisations.

There is also an enclosed rugby facility which is part of Dwr y Felin School.

At the rear of the railway lines there are two pitches in Twyn Teg which are now leased to local sports club.