03/28/2024

Wales News Online

Local & National News for Wales

LOCAL parents and members of the campaign group Our Children First have concerns about the plans for a new Welsh medium primary school which they believe will lead to increased congestion in the area.

Plans have been submitted for the new £12.5m Welsh medium primary school in Rhydyfelin.

The application is for a new school on the site of Heol y Celyn Primary School which is set to shut as part of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s 21st Century Schools plans for Pontypridd.

It would open in September 2024 and is part of a wider £55m school shake up across Pontypridd through the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme.

The new school would have capacity for 540 pupils aged between 3 and 11 years old and 60 places for the nursery.

The plans also include a new Multi Use Games Area, a new playing field, staff car park and on-site bus drop-off area.

The campaign group said the current plan includes parking for up to six buses to drop off children within the site.

They added that no mention is made as to where parents will be able to drop off their children from their own vehicles and the impact that this would have on the local community.

They quoted the design and access statement in the planning application which said “Currently there are no designated drop off areas within the site. Drop-off is informally carried out along Holly Street, which can become congested during peak times.”

Because the size of the school is increasing, it would be important to know what impact this might be and that it has been considered, the group said.

Additionally, the parents of children living in the Pont Sion Norton area who will be attending this school as their catchment area Welsh medium school have not been contacted and surveyed as to their intended transportation plans for their children, the group said in a statement.

Therefore, they said it is not known how many parents may choose not to use the bus transport that will be provided and wish to drive to the school and park whilst they drop off their children for a breakfast club, for example as part of their onward journey to work.

The impact of these travel movements on the local community have not been assessed, the group said.

The council has been contacted for comment.

 

%d bloggers like this: