Plans to reopen leisure centres in Ceredigion have been hit with further delays with no ‘definitive reopening date’.

Ceredigion County Council announced over the summer that Plascrug (pictured) and Cardigan leisure centres, along with Lampeter Swimming Pool, would reopen in the autumn.

However, trouble sourcing materials and specialist contractors have led to delays with no definitive end date for the work.

Leisure centres in Ceredigion were closed at the beginning of the pandemic with Plascrug in Aberystwyth and Cardigan converted into field hospitals, before being handed back to the council earlier this year.

The Welsh Government gave the go-ahead for sport and physical activity provision to restart from 3 May.

Every local authority reopened their leisure facilities almost immediately, except for Ceredigion.

Indoor leisure facilities at Aberaeron Leisure Centre, and Lampeter Leisure Centre reopened on 5 July.

However, Cardigan Leisure Centre, Lampeter Swimming Pool and Plascrug Leisure Centre remain shut and without a reopening date.

Plascrug was handed back to Ceredigion County Council by Hywel Dda Health Board at the end of March.

Cardigan Leisure Centre was retained as a mass vaccination centre, which was later moved to Yr Hen Ysgol Trewen on 26 July.

A spokesperson for Ceredigion County Council said: “Works to enable the reopening of Cardigan Leisure Centre, Lampeter Swimming Pool and Plascrug Leisure Centre are progressing.

“The new air handling units have arrived at both Plascrug and Lampeter swimming pools and their installation has commenced.

“Community use of the artificial turf pitch at Cardigan LC began last month and contractors are onsite at Cardigan Leisure Centre, undertaking work to the main sports hall and the remainder of the building.

“Due to the dependency on specialist contractors and availability of materials for the required works we are unable to provide a definite reopening date at present, but we can confirm that the work is progressing well at both leisure centres and at Lampeter Swimming Pool.

“We looking forward to welcoming back our users to our facilities as soon as it is possible to do so.”

The delay in opening leisure facilities has been widely criticised by many, including Ceredigion MP Ben Lake who, in May this year, said he understood the “desire of many to see the county’s leisure and sporting facilities reopen”, particular due to the low rates of infection in the county at the time.

Parents in Aberystwyth held two protests outside Plascrug Leisure Centre, the first on 4 June 2021. At the time, organiser Regina Hellmich said they hoped the protest would put pressure on the council, who she criticised for not supporting children, to “speed up” the reopening of the pools.

Arrangements have been made however for people to use Aberystwyth University’s swimming pool while work is carried out.