SPORTS clubs in Montgomeryshire have been dealt a blow with both the region’s leading leisure centres closing their all weather training facilities.

Every week hundreds of clubs utilise the all weather facilities at Welshpool’s Flash Leisure Centre on Salop Road and the Maldwyn Leisure Centre on Newtown’s Plantation Lane.

However the training schedules of football and hockey clubs were thrown into chaos this week after it was announced both facilities would be closed to the public due to essential maintenance.

Maldwyn’s all weather pitch is due to re-open today (Friday) but sports clubs in Welshpool face a potential lengthy wait for the Flash facilities to re-open with the works wholly dependent on the weather.

Facility operators Freedom Leisure confirmed the issues while insisting it was working toward ensuring both of Montgomeryshire’s most populous towns had access to all weather facilities as soon as possible.

Gwyn Owen, Freedom Leisure area manager said: “The pitch at Maldwyn in Newtown features a high number of floodlights which due to their age have seen some begin to suffer expected wear and tear.

“To minimise disruption to bookings we are closing half the pitch on Wednesday November 6 and 7 and the pitch will reopen as normal on Friday.”

However essential work on the Flash all weather facilities, with the pitch in need of cleaning following a non-contaminated waste leak from a neighbouring property, will take longer.

“The pitch at the Flash is closed following a number of failed drainage issues on a neighbouring, non-Freedom Leisure, property which resulted in non-contaminated waste being deposited on the pitch," said Mr Owen

“While the drainage on the neighbouring land has now been resolved, the pitch now requires a full deep clean, and this can only take place within a three to five day spell of dry weather.

“Our contractor is on standby to action this as soon as possible and we greatly appreciate our customers' continued patience and understanding while we complete these essential works.”