PLANS for a £44 million education centre at The Works in Ebbw Vale are set to get the go-ahead to move to public consultation this week.

Blaenau Gwent council's executive committee are meeting on Wednesday to take the next step in the redevelopment of the former steelworks site and a council report recommends the committee approve the next phase of the development.

The next step is to go to an informal public consultation to allow people living in Blaenau Gwent to have their say on the proposals, which could be taken forward to the formal consultation stage.

Alternative suggestions and ideas can also be submitted for consideration.

In July, the council got £44,402,000 from the Assembly under the transitional schools capital funding arrangement to spend on educational development at the site.

The development, which will cover primary education right through to degree-level, will include a children's centre and is going to replace Pen-y-Cwm School.

There will also be a hospital and £12 million family history and genealogy visitor centre at the site, which is set to open in 2010.

  • To have your say on the development, write to chief education officer, Robert Barbour, Central Depot, Barleyfield Industrial Estate, Brynmawr, NP23 4YF, or e-mail lisa.coles@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk The last day for comments id December 17.