A NUMBER of modernisation projects scheduled to take place in schools across Bridgend county borough will be delayed, according to council reports.
The news comes after a series of changes were approved as part of Bridgend County Borough Council’s capital spending programme earlier this year, meaning they will not be started until the 2025-26 financial year.
It means a number of the planned school modernisation projects, which include the building of five new schools in the area, will now be pushed back until April 2025 at the earliest.
Most notably, plans to move Heronsbridge School from its location on Ewenny Road to a new £22m site about a mile away on Island Farm have been pushed back while a revised business case is approved by Welsh Government for the work to go ahead.
Additionally, proposals for another new-build school expected to cost around £9m at Mynydd Cynffig will also be pushed back to 2025-26.
These controversial plans to build a school with 420 primary places and 75 nursery places in the village of Kenfig Hill, would see the demolition of the current Mynydd Cynffig Junior School, as well as the neighbouring Air Training Corp facility and allotment gardens, if given the go-ahead.
Similar delays will be seen for a potential £9.7m replacement school at Ysgol Bro Ogwr, along with other new sites planned at Afon y Felin and Ysgol y Ferch o’r Sgêr. Over £3m worth of highways works that are related to the school modernisation programme will also be set back.
This delay of works was agreed upon at a BCBC full council meeting in July as part of an update on the council’s capital programme.
Members also heard how a number of projects will also be added to the programme, including extra funding for the purchase of new waste vehicles in BCBC’s recycling fleet, as well as towards coal tip safety.
There will also be additional cash set aside for a flying start childcare facility in Nantymoel, along with grants to improve services for children with additional learning needs, and refurbishment work at sports courts in Maesteg Welfare Park and Caedu Park.
By Lewis Smith, LDRS
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