Cwmfelin Social Club, in the Cwmbwrla area, shut its doors in August 2023 when a small hole in the tarmac — “no more than a dustbin lid” in size, according to club officials — revealed a vast cavity beneath. Investigations linked the sinkhole to a collapsed culvert around 10 metres below ground and the remains of a disused tramline.
At the time, it was hoped the closure would last only weeks while safety work was carried out. But the location on private land, close to neighbouring buildings and a railway line, made repairs complex. As we reported in October 2024, both Welsh Water and Network Rail said the ground conditions and proximity to key infrastructure posed major challenges.
Now, club chairman Mike Kennedy says demolition is the only way to gain access for engineers to assess and fix the underlying problem.
“It’s two years now since the club closed. We were trying to find other ways to repair without taking the club down, but unfortunately that’s the only way to get access… yes, really disappointed.”
Local member Mark Boyce said the loss would be deeply personal:
“I’ll be in tears when this comes down. My mother’s soul is in there — she was a cleaner for 25 years and I used to come every weekend.”
Cwmbwrla councillor Peter Black said the cost of repairing the culvert and sewer would only be known once the building was gone and engineers could carry out a full inspection.
“It could be anything from £1 million upwards — or it could be less than that — we just don’t know yet.”
It is not yet clear whether the club will be rebuilt once the ground is made safe.
