Plans for new English and Welsh-medium schools in North Cornelly are set to take a big step forward, with Bridgend Council’s Cabinet set to draft the necessary legal arrangements to deliver the project (pdf).
The new schools will be delivered via the Mutual Investment Model (see a more detailed discussion on how this works at State of Wales – The Mysterious Mutual Investment Model: PFI in disguise?).
Afon-y-Felin Primary School, Corneli Primary and Ysgol Y Ferch O’r Sger are set to move to a new joint site at Plas Morlais on the Marlas Estate in North Cornelly.
The new English-medium school (a merger/replacement of Afon-y-Felin and Corneli Primary) is set to open in September 2023, with the new Welsh-medium school opening a year later in September 2024.
However, the council’s own consultation revealed serious misgivings amongst parents with a majority opposing the project due to concerns over the school’s size.
The Cabinet report also gives a strong hint as to what will happen to the old school sites.
Originally, BCBC intended to “swap” the land at Plas Morlais with the Afon-y-Felin site in a deal with the Valleys 2 Coast (V2C) housing association. However, this plan has been abandoned because of a big difference in land valuations (Plas Morlais being worth significantly more).
To make up for this difference, BCBC intends to include the Glan-y-Afon care home site in Ynysawdre in the land swap. Glan-yr-Afon – which was a specialist dementia centre – has been largely replaced by new “extra care” facilities, including Ty Ynysawdre located nearby.
