THE Vale council's cabinet has given "in principle" support to plans for a new health and well being hub at Penarth Leisure Centre.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has submitted the proposal to construct a health and wellbeing facility including a GP surgery at the rear of the leisure centre on Andrew Road.

The proposal would include accommodation to enable the replacement of the Station Road and Redlands GP practices, and would also feature additional primary care facilities.  The Vale council was approached in July about the possibility of locating a new health and wellbeing facility on the Penarth Leisure Centre site.  An initial site meeting was arranged and the health board stated that they would investigate further and arrange another meeting if they wished to progress discussions.

The council was contacted again during October by the health board stating that Penarth Leisure Centre was their preferred location for a new health facility in Penarth and they were keen to begin a public consultation on the proposal.

The report, which will be presented to cabinet on Monday (December 12), says the project could have many advantages for the council and would provide a "hub" for community health care which would be a "neat fit" with the objectives of the leisure centre in providing healthy living opportunities.  The chosen site would be the tennis courts are located with the idea being that patients mainly use the leisure centre entrance to access the surgery.  The hope is that this would increase footfall in the leisure centre, particularly during the day, and would assist the company who operates the centre, Legacy Leisure, in attracting new customers.

The health board would look to compensate the council for the loss of the outdoor courts and the expectation is that they would seek a 125 year lease from the council for the land.

The tennis courts are currently part of the leisure management contract and negotiations would be required with Legacy Leisure about changing the contract to return these to the council. 

Councillor Gwyn John, cabinet member for visible, leisure and regulatory services said that the council has thought about doing something with this space and that the courts are "hardly used."

Leader of the council, cllr Neil Moore was keen to stress that this is still a "potential" plan at this stage.

A Cardiff and Vale University Health Board spokeswoman confirmed they are in discussions with the Vale of Glamorgan Council about the plan.

Should an agreement be reached, the plans will then be subject to the normal planning consideration and public consultation.