RCT Council is consulting residents on its plans for a new £12.5m Welsh Medium primary school in Rhydyfelin, to inform its final planning application – and will host a public event next week as part of the engagement exercise.
The school will be built on the current Heol y Celyn Primary School site, welcoming the school’s Welsh Medium pupils and those currently attending Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pont Sion Norton. It will open in September 2024, and is funded as part of a wider £55m investment across Greater Pontypridd from Welsh Government’s 21stCentury Schools and Colleges Programme.
The school will contain first-class education facilities in a 21st Century building, while the wider scheme includes a new Multi Use Games Area, new playing field, staff car park and on-site bus drop-off area. The intention is for the school to achieve Net Zero Carbon in operation, while the existing buildings will be demolished.
Residents now have the opportunity to access more information and have their say on the Council’s proposals, in a consultation process which will remain open up until October 15.
The webpage contains all of the draft planning application documents, including site location plans for the new school. Any comments about the plans can be submitted via email ([email protected]) or via letter, using the postal address included on the consultation homepage.
In addition, the Council will host a local event – at Rhydyfelin Community Centre, Dyffryn Road, on Friday, October 8 (2pm-7pm) – so residents can have their say in person. Plans of the new school will be displayed, while Officers from the Council and ISG, the contractors building the new school, will be in attendance to answer any questions.
Councillor Joy Rosser, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Inclusion Services, said: “It’s exciting to see an artist’s impression of the new Welsh Medium primary school in Rhydyfelin, bringing to life the fantastic £12.5m building that is proposed. The scheme will deliver state-of-the-art facilities, thanks to our continued partnership with Welsh Government and its 21stCentury Schools and Colleges Programme.
“Improving our local Welsh Medium education provision continues to be a priority for this Council, as we work towards the outcomes of the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP). While the majority of our Welsh Medium schools have surplus places, a key part of the Plan is investment in those areas where demand is growing, to increase the capacity of our provision.
“Supporting the increase in demand locally is a key advantage of the new school for Rhydyfelin. This is similar to ongoing schemes at Ysgol Rhydywaun in Penywaun and YGG Aberdâr in Cwmdare – with work getting underway at each of these schools this summer, to deliver improved facilities and increase places. These separate investments total £12.1m and £4.5m respectively.
“I’d urge local people interested in the new Welsh Medium primary school for Rhydyfelin to take part in the consultation – whether online, via letter or at the event on October 8. All of the feedback received will be considered and used to shape the Council’s final planning application, which will be submitted and then determined by the Planning and Development Committee in due course.”
