Plans approved for £7m primary school

Monmouthshire council rubberstamped its earlier decision to approve plans yesterday despite concerns over an increased volume of traffic and the design of the school.

Abergavenny councillor Chris Woodhouse said the school was "more Milton Keynes than Monmouthshire".

George Ashworth, Monmouthshire's head of planning said the final decision had been deferred at the last meeting because they had failed to consult with Llantilio Pertholey community council, as part of the site falls in their area.

The community council's had now recommended refusal because of the impact they felt the increased traffic would have on the area.

Mr Ashworth said officers felt this was an issue which had been fully discussed at the last meeting, and the majority of members endorsed the scheme, with two members against.

The new 420-place school will be built as part of the council's strategic review of primary education in Abergavenny, and replaces St David's Junior, Llwynu Infants and Croesonen Infant schools.

The local education authority has arranged two public meetings for Monday, March 8, one at 5pm and the other at 7pm. Both will be held at King Henry VIII Comprehensive School, Abergavenny.

The meetings will be held to give a progress report and answer questions in relation to the new primary school and the proposals for converting Harold Road Junior School, Abergaven-ny into a primary.

Assembly minister Jane Davidson has said she is minded to approve the council's plans for Harold Road, subject to some issues such as health and safety of the children while the work goes on to convert the existing building.

The council proposes sending the pupils from Harold Road School to the St David's School once the new primary school on the Llwynu site is open. This will be just while work on Harold Road is carried out.

Eventually the St.David's School will become the permanent home for Ysgol Gymraeg Y Fenni, currently housed in the former youth centre in Old Hereford Road.