Full steam ahead for new £10.5million school development at Glasdir
The Council’s Planning Committee have recently granted planning permission for a new shared school site in Ruthin. The £10.5million investment will see Rhos Street School and Ysgol Pen Barras relocate to modern, fit for purpose facilities in 2017. The project has been match funded by the Welsh Government as part of their 21st Century Schools Programme.
Cllr Eryl Williams said “This is an important milestone for the future of education in the Ruthin area, approval at the planning stage is the last major hurdle so it is now full steam ahead for work to begin at the site. It is an exciting time for both schools, we would like to thank them and their communities for their contributions toward the development of this project.”
Head of Education and Children’s Services, Karen Evans commented “We are delighted that planning approval has been granted today. We are committed to providing the best educational facilities for our pupils in Denbighshire. Our continued investment in our schools is testament to this and it will ensure that educational excellence is supported both now and in the future.”
Chris Wynne, Managing Director of Wynne Construction said: “We are delighted to have secured another contract under the North Wales Construction Framework and to be working again with Denbighshire County Council on this design and build project.
“We have a successful working relationship with Denbighshire having previously completed Ysgol Brynhyfryd and Borthyn Primary School in Ruthin. We look forward to delivering the project along with our locally-based supply chain and to demonstrate our commitment to the local community through a range of community benefits and initiatives.”
Ysgol Glan Clwyd development on course
The redevelopment at Ysgol Glan Clwyd is progressing well, with the project now entering its final phase.
The £15.9 million development will extend and improve the school site, to accommodate an increase in demand for spaces, as well as providing new, modern facilities. The development is being funded by the Council and the Welsh Government through the 21st Century Schools programme.
Willmott Dixon, the contractors of the development, started construction on site in November 2015.
The new extension, which is phase one of the project will be complete in early 2017.
The next phase will see the refurbishment of the existing school buildings, with the project expected to be completed in late 2017.
A day of celebrations at Bodnant
There was an air of celebration at Bodnant Community School in Prestatyn recently as the brand new extension was officially opened.
Councillor Ann Davies, Chair of Denbighshire and Gwyn Bartley Chair of Governors at Bodnant Community School Prestatyn officially opened the new £3.4m extension and refurbishment project which allows the infants to join junior pupils on the same site.
The new extension has 7 new classrooms, a hall, community room, a new reception and offices. There is also a new staff and visitors car park which can be accessed from Ffordd Parc Bodnant. As part of the project the existing building was also refurbished.
The project has been funded jointly by Denbighshire County Council and Welsh Government through its 21st Century Schools and Education Programme.
Helen Vernon, Headteacher at Bodnant, said: “The children are so fortunate in having such a purpose built school which has been designed to accommodate so many activities. The children are also fortunate in having a team of dedicated teachers, each showing in their own ways true examples of kindness, caring and thoughtful ways where they will nurture and teach.
“Bodnant has been at the heart of the community since 1902 as a school on Marine Road and in 1972 a new school was built at the current location to accommodate the junior children and this is how the infant and junior children were on different sites. Over the years the amalgamation was considered and I and delighted to have been given the opportunity to lead the new school in to a challenging but very exciting future.
“I will do my utmost to following the footsteps of previous headteachers – Margaret Jones, Carolyn Thomas and Jean Hannam ion the infant school and Tom Parry, Gwyn Hughes and Martyin Blythin in the junior school. True examples of wonderful headteachers”.
“I am most grateful for the funding from Denbighshire and Welsh Government 21st century schools and th valuable input from our local authority into this special project, which will enable us to fulfil our dreams”.