School building may start this year

Jul 11 2002 By Helen Harper, Caernarfon And Denbigh Herald

WORK on a badly needed new school for special needs children could start in the next financial year.

A report proposing that the plan to build new school premises for Ysgol Pendalar in Caernarfon be brought forward will be presented at the next meeting of Gwynedd Council's board, and if approved, work will start in the next financial year for the opening date of September 2005.

The news has been welcomed by the Pendalar Action Committee, which has been campaigning for a replacement building since the beginning of the year.

Len Williams, the vice-chairman of the committee, said: "There has been an ongoing problem with graffiti, windows have been broken and there is general vandalism, and this was a factor in the HMI report. The school was praised for its work, but condemned as being an inadequate building.

"The school's population has grown, which means the premises getting smaller. It is designed to hold about 60 pupils and it now has about 75, and next year it is thought there will be over 80 children.

"We have been given a projection of how work will progress. I think the three years given isareasonable time."

Jane Davidson, the Welsh Assembly's education Minister visited the school in May, and Gwynedd Council's education department recognised that a remedy to the situation needed to be found.

A possible site for the new school will be on Bethel Road, Caernarfon, between Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen and Ysgol y Gelli, but that is still to be confirmed.

Mr Williams added: "The school would be right next to a mainstream primary school, and the older children, who are aged 19, could go to Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen and see how it works there, and the other way round. There is also the leisure centre that they could use. It would be the ideal site."

Ieuan Roberts, the deputy headmaster at Ysgol Pendalar, said: "What we understand is that everything has gone through. We have had certain messages saying that everything more or less looks all right for 2005. It's an ideal chance for Gwynedd to show the way to other counties."

A statement from Gwynedd Council said: "The education department has already recognised the situation of Ysgol Pendalar as a school that needs quick attention, and areport will be presented at the next meeting of the council board. This report will suggest that the plan should be brought forward within the council'srevenue programme.

"If the suggestion receives approval, the task of drawing detailed plans will begin with the objective of receiving a final agreement for the work to start in the next financial year.

"This timetable will ensure that the new school could open its doors in September 2005."

Dafydd Wigley, AM, who is president of the Pendalar Action Committee, said: "I am delighted that in principal, it has got the go-ahead and hopefully by September 2005 there will be a new school.

"I hope it will be on the education campus to bring Pendalar in as partof mainstream education, and not hidden out of sight.

"We were successful in getting Jane Davidson AM there, and I am hoping there may be some added funding from the Assembly to add certain dimensions to what is provided.

"The teachers do a fantastic job under difficult circumstances. I'm glad the council has shown the commitment, and I am looking forward to more news coming through about it soon."