Decision to be made on new school in Merthyr
A DECISION is set to be made on whether to build a new primary school and games area in Merthyr Tydfil.
An application for the new school for 240 pupils on the former site of Vaynor and Penderyn School in Cefn Coed, as well as a games area on the Godre’r Coed playing fields, is set to come back to the council’s planning committee.
On November 28 the council’s planning, regulatory and licensing committee decided to defer the application so a site visit could take place.
The proposed school would replace the existing Ysgol-y-Graig Primary School in Brewery Lane and Trefechan Nursery.
The site visit happened on Thursday, December 6, and the main concerns raised were highway and pedestrian safety issues.
The potential for a one-way system and a 20mph speed limit along Pont y Capel Road was raised, along with safe routes to school accesses.
A 73-space car park would be included for teachers, staff and parents.
But during the site visit councillors questioned whether parents would use the car park or just park as close as possible to the school, particularly in bad weather.
The report from the site visit said most of the concerns raised were considered in the original planning report.
Officers say the building and outdoor spaces would provide a learning and recreational environment that would hugely benefit both pupils and the community.
They add that the development would bring a visually poor site back into use and by doing so introduce a distinctive building that would positively add to the character and appearance of the area.
They say it could be constructed without having an adverse impact on highway or pedestrian safety and, while the concerns of local residents are fully appreciated, it is considered that the development would not significantly harm their amenity.
The council received 10 letters objection to the plans for the school.
The reasons for objection included increased traffic congestion, increased noise levels in Cyfarthfa Gardens from increased traffic, children’s safety being put at risk because of increased traffic, fear of increased anti-social behaviour and crime associated with the car park, the negative impact of construction vehicles, and the effect on businesses at Maesgwynne.
But an email received from one resident said they were very much in favour of the new school and looked forward to its completion.
Councillors will make a decision on the application at a special planning, regulatory and licensing committee on Thursday, December 13. of