Detailed plans to extend a flagship special school in Ystrad Mynach have been unveiled by Caerphilly council this week.
Alternative proposals for the expansion of Trinity Fields School were announced last October, following concerns that the original plans would have led to the loss of an adjacent sports pitch.
Eye-catching visuals show a colourful new two storey extension within the footprint of the existing school site to accommodate an additional 80 places, plus extra facilities.
Cllr Carol Andrews, CCBC’s Cabinet Member for Education said, “These exciting plans signal a new era for this flagship school and also clearly demonstrate that the adjacent sports pitch is unaffected by the scheme.”
Leader of Council, Cllr Sean Morgan also welcomed the news “As promised, this solution will deliver a ‘win-win’ for all concerned – the school will get a much-needed extension and the community gets to keep a valuable green space.”
The extension plans require additional parking facilities and therefore two areas have been identified:
The first is a parcel of land next to the existing school site, which will require the removal of a small number of trees, but these will be replanted nearby.
The second area is on the south side of the rugby pitch, where shipping containers are currently sited. ‘Green’ parking spaces will be provided using a ‘no dig’ construction which will not damage the tree roots and will allow rain water to drain.
The extension scheme is being delivered as part of Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme (Band B) and the Council’s Cabinet is set to consider the final funding approval next month.
As these revised proposals do not provide as many additional facilities as the original plans, the council is also investigating a longer term option to create a second Special School within the county borough under Band C of the programme.
