 The planned Morfa Football Stadium |
A Swansea athletics club which faced being made homeless has welcomed a �3m investment in sports facilities in the city. The Swansea Harriers are having to move from their base at Morfa Stadium so that it can be developed into an all-seater arena for the Swans and All Whites football and rugby clubs.
Now Sportlot will provide funding to build alternative facilities in Swansea, although the Harriers will be without a home for about a year.
Club president Barrie Owen said he was delighted because an earlier bid for lottery money had been unsuccessful.
 It is further proof that Swansea is becoming a leading sports venue in the UK  |
"We are using Morfa at the moment which is very run down and we have not had a senior match there for six or seven years because of the state it is in," he said.
Football pitch
"We have had to wait and see if the second effort was successful and we are delighted it has been," he added.
The funding will provide:
A sand-filled artificial pitch at Morriston Comprehensive School. An athletics track with grass in-field to accommodate a full-size football pitch at the Swansea University playing fields at Sketty Road. An indoor regional athletics training centre at the King George V playing fields, Sketty Lane. Two artificial pitches at the King George V playing fields. Outdoor football and cricket pitches and changing rooms at Daniel James School, Bishop Vaughan School, Morriston Comprehensive and Cefn Hengoed School. Four outdoor netball and tennis courts at a venue to be decided. Both the Swansea Harriers' senior teams are in the UK's top 20 and Mr Owen said he was hopeful the investment would attract more youngsters to the sport.
 The money will boost athletics |
"When Morfa closes we will be homeless for about a year and we will either go to Neath or use inferior indoor training facilities," added Mr Owen.
"But we are delighted that at last we are moving towards the future."
Swansea Council leader Lawrence Bailey said the money was a huge vote of confidence.
"This grant is a huge boost for Swansea," he said.
Start date
"It clearly demonstrates the confidence that Sportlot and the Sports Council for Wales have in our plans to create a sports village and regional athletics centre.
"It is also further proof that Swansea is becoming a leading sports venue in the UK.
"We have a new 50-metre national pool, the best 10km road race in Britain, we are going to host this year's British Triathlon Championships, create a sports village and move ahead with plans for the 20,000 all-seater Morfa Stadium."
There is still no official start for the Morfa Stadium development .
It is expected to take 12 to 14 months to complete.
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