(Title Image: Brynmenyn Primary School via Facebook)
After more than four years of background work, Bridgend Council’s cabinet will be presented with an update on plans for a new children’s residential home (pdf).
The service is currently based at Maple Tree House in Bridgend. There have been long-standing concerns about the location and outdated layout. Towards the end of 2020, it was reported that the centre had failed three inspections in the space of a year.
A purpose-built £2.25million replacement would be based at the former Brynmenyn Primary School (the current one is pictured). Work had already started but was delayed due to issues with common land – which have since been resolved.
It would be the new base for emergency residential accommodation as well as the service that oversees permanent placements. Service users will be involved in helping design the centre to meet their needs.
The new centre will also increase capacity to reduce the number of expensive “out-of-county” placements – though the long-term policy of the Welsh Government is to reduce the number of children taken into care in the first place.
