New homes found for fire-stricken centre users

Alternative accommodation is being offered to community groups in Bonymaen in the wake of a fire that badly damaged a local building.

Officers from Swansea Council have now met with the voluntary management committee of Bonymaen Community Centre after their base on Bonymaen Road was engulfed by flames for about four hours into the early hours of Wednesday morning (May 26).

Every group that had used the centre before the fire is being offered a new home in the immediate area thanks to the help of the kindhearted local community. Bontawe House, Pentrechwyth Senior Citizens Pavilion, Cefn Hengoed Leisure Centre, Bonymaen Rugby Club and St Margaret’s Church are among the venues where the user groups could soon be relocated.

Bonymaen Community Centre was used by a Senior Citizens Club, a Bingo Group, the Kurb Youth Club, the Bonymaen Kids Initiative Afterschool Club, a Friday Kid Club and Saturday Morning Club, a luncheon club, a cake decorating class and a writing class.

The centre was empty at the time of the fire and has now been cordoned off and made safe.

South Wales Police and the Mid and West Wales Fire Service say the cause of the fire was not malicious and the scale of the damage is still being assessed.

Cllr Alan Robinson, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Regeneration, said: “It’s times like these that really bring a community together and we’ve seen community spirit in full force since the fire damaged Bonymaen Community Centre.

“Many local groups and organisations have been in touch to offer their support and we’re now working closely alongside the voluntary management committee to contact user groups and check if the alternative accommodation that’s being made available suits their needs.

“We’d like to thank those people in the Bonymaen community who have so kindly offered their premises as alternative bases for the centre users.”

Contact Swansea Council’s Community Buildings Team on 01792 635415 if you’d like more information.

Bonymaen Library is also closed until further notice due to the fire at the community centre.

Fines will be waived on any outstanding items.

The nearest libraries are Swansea Central Library, Llansamlet Library and St Thomas Library.

Anyone who would like to renew their items should call 01792 636464. More information on the Swansea Library Service including the opening times of each library in the area is available at www.swansea.gov.uk/libraries

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