£223k refurbishment brings new life to Maesteg’s netball and basketball courts

Major investment in community sport

The refurbishment forms part of the Sport Wales Court Collaboration Project, a scheme launched in 2022 with Wales Netball and Basketball Wales to widen access to sport across Welsh communities.

Funding for the Maesteg project included £167,250 from Sport Wales’ Court Collaboration Fund and £55,750 from Bridgend County Borough Council’s Community Asset Transfer Fund.

Official opening ceremony

The courts were officially reopened on Thursday 25 September, with speeches from John Spanswick, Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council, Jack Sargeant MS and Stephen Kinnock MP.

The ribbon‑cutting was followed by basketball and netball activities led by national governing bodies, with pupils from St Mary’s & St Patrick’s RC Primary School among the first to try out the new facilities.

Council leader welcomes investment

John Spanswick, Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council, said:

“We are thrilled to have worked in partnership with Sport Wales’ Court Collaboration Scheme and are delighted to announce that the basketball and netball courts at Caedu Park and Maesteg Welfare Park are now available to the community.

It’s brilliant to see that these courts have been given a refurbishment and another boost of investment in the park, having recently opened the neighbouring tennis courts.

I am extremely grateful to the Court Collaboration Scheme for seeing this come to fruition alongside us and I have no doubt that these courts will prove to be popular with adults and children alike in the community.”

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Revamped sports courts boost community access across South West Wales

A Welsh Government-backed initiative is transforming outdated tennis courts into modern basketball and netball spaces across South West Wales, with new facilities already open in Maesteg, Port Talbot, Cwmafan and Haverfordwest.

The upgrades are part of Sport Wales’s Court Collaboration Fund, which has invested over £1.4 million since 2022 to improve sports infrastructure in 12 local authorities. The fund supports the Welsh Government’s wider £41 million commitment to community and elite sports facilities, including £10.1 million earmarked for 2025–26.

Young players take to the court at Maesteg Welfare Park, where refurbished facilities now support basketball and netball in Bridgend County.

Local impact: Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot and Pembrokeshire

Two newly refurbished courts opened this week at Maesteg Welfare Park in Bridgend County, converting former tennis courts into vibrant basketball and netball zones with multi-coloured surfacing, line markings and new court furniture.

In Neath Port Talbot, recent investments have upgraded courts at Port Talbot Memorial Park (£73,745), Parc y Llyn in Cwmafan (£77,384), and Ystalyfera (£121,182), creating inclusive spaces for team sports and youth engagement.

Pembrokeshire has also benefited, with £12,501 allocated to Ysgol Caer Elen in Haverfordwest to support court transformation and expand local access to basketball and netball.

Aerial perspective of the Blakemore court in use, highlighting new surfacing and line markings designed to support basketball and netball participation.

Jack Sargeant, Minister for Sport, said: “The Court Collaboration Fund exemplifies how working together strategically to invest in the right facilities in the right places can maximise the impact for local communities. They’re more than courts — they’re catalysts for community cohesion, youth development and improved wellbeing.”

He added: “With the £10 million allocated for sports infrastructure, we’re building the foundation for a healthier, more active Wales where geography and background are no barrier to sporting participation.”

Supporting grassroots sport

The refurbished courts are designed to increase participation, enable coaching programmes, and support new teams. Governing bodies are working with schools and community groups to embed sport into daily life and ensure facilities are accessible to all.

Other funded sites include Caedu Park in Ogmore Vale (£84,750), further strengthening Bridgend’s multi-sport offering, and several locations across Monmouthshire, Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent.

The Court Collaboration Fund continues to support projects that repurpose underused spaces and promote inclusive, team-based physical activity across Wales.

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