Two options for location of new Catholic school in Merthyr

PEOPLE in Merthyr Tydfil can have their say on two options for where to build a new Catholic school.

The consultation on the revised options for the new 3-16 Catholic school has begun and will run until Thursday, February 17.

A special full council meeting in December saw this latest consultation approved despite some councillors voting against it as they didn’t feel the Greenie or Buttercup Field should be included in the consultation due to the strong public opposition to building on them.

Those against including the Greenie or Buttercup Field in the consultation proposed including a “none of the above” option at the meeting on December 7 but that was voted down by council.

The first option (Option A) in the current consultation is for the Greenie, with additional open space on current Bishop Hedley High School (BHHS) phase two.

This is the previous option two with changes made in response to the previous consultation including the community playground being relocated near to the current community multi use games area and the community changing rooms being relocated to the Buttercup Fields next to the community grass pitch and shared 3G pitch.

It also includes an additional green space community facility being included on phse two (upper site) of the current BHHS site and a safe pedestrian route provided from the location of the Greenie playing fields to the Buttercup Fields and new community space on the BHHS phase two site.

The school building with car parking and drop-off would be located on the Greenie playing fields, with both fields relocated to the Buttercup fields.

One of the playing fields would be a shared school and community 3G all-weather football pitch, and the other would be open access to the community.

The other option (Option B) is for the current Bishop Hedley site with school rugby pitch on one of the Buttercup Fields which is a new option.

The school building and primary drop-off and primary play areas would be located on phase two of the current BHHS site, with car parking, sports hall and sports pitches on Phase one of the site.

A school rugby pitch would be located on plateau two of the Buttercup Fields.

Council leader and cabinet member for education Councillor Lisa Mytton said: “Full council has considered all the feedback from the previous public consultations and agreed revised options to consult further with the public.

“These include an option to develop the existing BHHS sites to give everyone a real alternative to developing the school building on the Greenie.

“The option to develop the Greenie now includes provision of more green open space for the community to further enhance provision of new community facilities across the Greenie, Buttercup Fields and current BHHS sites.

“We want to provide the best solution for the whole community with this school – for pupils, residents and users of the field – and your feedback is vital to this decision.”

The project involves closing St Aloysius Roman Catholic (RC) Primary, St Illtyd’s RC Primary and St Mary’s RC Primary Schools and Bishop Hedley RC High School (BHHS) and creating a new 3-16 Voluntary Aided Catholic school.

The consultation survey and proposal details, including site plans are available at https://www.merthyr.gov.uk/vaschool

Hard copies can be requested from the council, either by calling 01685 725000 or emailing 3-16vaschool@merthyr.gov.uk.

Responses need to be returned to the council marked FAO 3-16 School Project by February 17.