A NEW community building in a Penarth park is set to get hundreds of users a week, according to council bosses.

The new building will replace the current bowling pavilion in Belle Vue Park, in Albert Crescent.

Vale of Glamorgan council’s planning committee approved permission for the replacement building last week.

Councillor Kathryn McCaffer, cabinet member for leisure, arts and culture, said: “The new building will encourage a wide range of community groups to be able to use the space. Anyone who has attended a meeting or event in the current building can attest to how uninviting and inaccessible it is, and freezing cold.

“While it’s sad that the existing, dilapidated building needs to be demolished, it has had a long life which has mainly benefited the bowling club.

"I welcome the building of a new pavilion as a way to ensure the whole community is supported for future generations, so we can keep adding to the history of this location.”

David Knevett, operational manager for leisure and tourism, did not answer questions on the cost of the works, but expects hundreds of users each week.

He said: “The new building is a considerable investment, and leisure services are keen that it’s used to its full potential. By combining community use, the use of the bowlers, and events, we are confident this can be achieved.

“We feel the building provides a springboard for more community activity to take place in this area of Penarth. We’re really excited about this project and the opportunity this building will represent.

"A significant amount of the cost is being funded through Section 106, and we’ve been fortunate enough to secure a grant from the lottery for this building.”

The new community building was welcomed by a local community group, Friends of Belle Vue, who took part in public consultations and fed into the final designs.

The Friends' Theo Hodgkinson said: “We’re really excited to see the positive impacts of having a purpose-built facility that is accessible to all age groups. We’re also excited about the energy-saving credentials of the building."