**Fresh Hope for Mumbles Sports and Community Hub as Council Announces Re-opening Plan**
There is renewed optimism in Mumbles, Swansea, as a temporary re-opening has been announced for the Underhill Park sports and community hub following its sudden closure. After the previous operating company entered voluntary liquidation, uncertainty clouded the future for local sports clubs, community groups, and the families who frequent the well-used pitches and facilities. Now, Swansea Council and Mumbles Community Council have joined forces in a rescue effort, aiming to reinstate access from early August, with assurances the arrangement will remain in place until at least the end of 2025.
The closure caused considerable concern amongst the community. For years, Underhill Park has been a central venue for a plethora of local teams, including Mumbles Rugby Club and Mumbles Rangers FC, as well as for various community gatherings. The abrupt halt in services left clubs without vital facilities, prompting swift action from local authorities determined to prevent long-term disruption.
Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart shared details of the new partnership during a cabinet session on 17 July, outlining a temporary joint venture with Mumbles Community Council. Stewart explained that this measure is intended as a stop-gap while a permanent solution is developed, aiming to ensure continuity for community sport in the area. “It’s been an incredibly stressful time for all those who rely on Underhill Park,” he said, expressing gratitude to the community council for their willingness to collaborate. The arrangement, he added, would also provide space to explore a more sustainable operational model for the future.
Underhill Park’s facilities have long been managed through a partnership between the charity Mumbles Community Association (MCA), which owns the site, and the Underhill Management Company (UMC), a private operator that reinvested profits into maintenance and upgrades. However, last year saw UMC hit with an unexpectedly high rateable value for the venue, resulting in business rates that soared to more than £93,000 across two years – a sum that proved unmanageable even after partial relief reduced the figure to £56,000.
The setback prompted the decision to enter voluntary creditors’ liquidation, taken reluctantly by both the charity and UMC, despite more than a decade of investment and fundraising. Financial pressures were further compounded by complications around the eligibility for charitable business rates relief – an outcome neither party had anticipated, as the operating structure had originally been employed to allow the MCA to reclaim nearly £600,000 in VAT from the £3.2 million redevelopment of the site.
MCA vice-chair Martin Rodwell spoke candidly about the strain of the preceding months, describing the “absolutely stressful” period as volunteers worked tirelessly to save the community asset. Rodwell noted that efforts to re-negotiate the rateable value with the Valuation Office Agency led to a 25% reduction, though even this proved insufficient for the hub’s long-term sustainability. He reflected on the complexities of legal and financial structures used to manage such projects, highlighting the unforeseeable challenges that emerged despite professional advice.
This re-opening represents a lifeline for the numerous sports clubs that rely on Underhill Park, including those recently drawn to its new artificial cricket wicket. Mumbles Community Council chair Will Thomas acknowledged the relief amongst user groups and welcomed the council partnership as an essential step. There are also plans to re-open the café within the main hub building, though changes to operating hours are anticipated as the site transitions back to full functionality.
Underhill Park’s redevelopment has long been a model of combined investment, supported by the Welsh Government, Swansea Council, the National Lottery and significant private donations. The community’s pride in the facility is evident, having earned praise from the National Lottery itself and recognition at the Welsh Sports Association sports industry awards, where the MCA was a finalist in the Best Business Growth category.
The renewed collaboration and immediate plans for re-opening have sent a wave of relief through local sports teams, volunteers, and families, cementing Underhill Park’s central role in the life of the Mumbles area. As local authorities look ahead to finding a lasting solution, the commitment shown underlines the importance of community resilience in the face of sudden adversity.
While operational and financial challenges remain to be resolved for the long term, the swift intervention by Swansea and Mumbles councils ensures the park’s pitches and amenities will not stand idle. The coming months will be crucial in establishing a future-proof model that safeguards Underhill Park for generations to come.