Council set to remove sunbeds from leisure centres

All sunbeds at Vale of Glamorgan Council leisure centres could be removed in the near future.

The council’s Cabinet will consider a report next Wednesday (September 2), which recommends that sunbeds are removed from council run leisure centres.

An initial report was considered in June and Cabinet members asked for more information on the use of sunbeds. Since then damning new research has found that the use of sun beds is definitely ‘carcinogenic to humans’.

Leader of the Vale council, Coun Gordon Kemp, said: "We have had this important issue very much in mind and wanted to ensure that the best possible information was available before making a decision. In late July, I became aware of a report from the International Agency for Cancer Research, part of the World Health Organisation, which definitely made the link between sun beds and cancer, putting them on a par with smoking. I immediately asked that the information be included in a further report for the next Cabinet meeting, when I am confident that we will end the use of sun beds in our leisure centres."

The council currently provides five sunbeds, two at Penarth Leisure Centre and one each at the Barry, Llantwit Major and Cowbridge centres.