Questions remain over site for school
PLANS for a new 210-place primary school in the Vale of Glamorgan have taken a step further.
St Nicholas CIW Primary School is set to expand and move to a new building after the expansion was approved by the council.
The proposed new £4.2m school would see the school expand from 126 to 210 places, lower the starting age of pupils from four to three years old and have a new nursery class with 48 part-time places from September 2021.
St Nicholas Primary’s existing site was earmarked for the new building as part of a consultation on expanding the capacity of the school.
The expansion plans were approved by the council’s ruling body despite 47 people making formal objections.
The design and location of the school are yet to be finalised.
People had raised concerns about potential traffic congestion as a result of the new school being built and suggested an alternative site.
Councillor Jonathan Bird, who represents the Wenvoe ward, told the council: “While I support and encourage the long overdue changes from 126 children to 210 in a new one-site school, I have major concerns about suitable vehicle and pedestrian access to the existing site.
“This is why I would urge that the council does all in its power to build the new school on a new site on the eastern edge of St Nicholas with its own direct access from the A48.”
In a response to the consultation, the school’s governing body says it is discussing the possibility of moving the new school to another site.
The final design and location of the school would have to get planning permission in order to go ahead, which would involve another consultation with neighbours. A transport assessment would also be undertaken as part of that process.
If a new site is chosen more than one mile from the existing school, another consultation process to expand the school – known as a regulated alteration – would have to be run.
The school would be funded 65% by the Welsh Government and 35% by the council.