A REVAMP of a primary school site where children can be left “soaking wet” is expected to cost no more than £7.3 million.
Planning permission has already been granted to demolish two temporary classrooms, that have been in place for decades, build a new classroom and extensions to connect all three sections of Ysgol Bryn Onnen in Varteg, Pontypool.
The largest school building dates back to 1903, while a Victorian-era school also forms part of the site.
Steve Tong, who is head of access within Torfaen Borough Council’s education department, told the full council the approved plans will connect all three buildings at the Welsh medium school.
“It will improve safety and pupils will no longer have to go up and down the driveway just to get to lunch,” said Mr Tong.
The council aims to start construction in February or March, which is expected to take around 12 months, while some additional decarbonisation work will take place in summer 2028.
The full council agreed to submit an updated business case to the Welsh Government, which will meet 65 per cent of the costs, and commit up to £2.5m from its own capital budget, for large one-off costs, towards the project to meet its 35 per cent share.
Councillor Richard Clark, the Labour cabinet member for education, said the development is much needed. Rising costs, and other school building commitments, meant work on Ysgol Bryn Onnen was paused after an initial design phase in 2021.
‘Long overdue’
The Croesyceiliog councillor said: “This is long overdue having visited the site and had the headteacher show me around. I don’t think I’ve ever been up there on a dry day, and I’m not belittling Forgeside, this will mean the school is all interconnected and children can go across various parts of the site without getting soaking wet.
“It might seem trivial but if children are soaking wet and sat in a classroom they are not learning or concentrating as well.”
Reform UK councillor Stuart Keyte questioned how costs had risen from an initial estimate, in the first business case in July 2021, from £3.5m to the £7.5m figure, though the final cost could be lower.
The Trevethin councillor said that was an increase of 109 per cent in five years and said: “If we realised at the time we might have looked more closely had we realised costs would have more than doubled.”
Mr Tong said the design wasn’t fully developed in 2021 and costs and inflation have increased in that time but said the council has “reassurance” the figure is within the Welsh Government’s benchmarked costs.
The council is still evaluating the three tender bids received, which will be awarded to the bidder with the best overall score.
After Labour presiding member Cllr Rose Seabourne said the cost of living as well as labour, materials and inflation had risen in recent years, Cllr Keyte quipped: “My wage hasn’t increased by 109 per cent in the last five years.”
Cabinet member Cllr David Daniels pointed out Reform-run Warwickshire council has reported a £12m shortfall in its school building programme and said: “This is not endemic to Torfaen or Wales, it is across the piste labour and material costs.”