New £5m home for Welsh language primary school takes a step closer

Gareth Williams, local democracy reporter

A Welsh language primary school has come a step closer to getting a new £5m home.

Gwynedd Council’s Cabinet is expected to issue a statutory notice that, if approved and planning permission is secured, would allow work to start on a new 150 pupil school to replace Ysgol Treferthyr in Criccieth.

Earmarked for a site just off the A497 on the western approach into the town, the authority hopes to open its doors in the summer of 2023, allowing the replacement of the existing  “very poor” and “beyond repair” 1970s building.

The Welsh Government will fund 65 per cent of the cost of the new school through its 21st Century Schools Program, with the remainder coming from Gwynedd Council.

Cllr Cemlyn Rees Williams, Gwynedd Council’s cabinet member for education, said: “I would like to thank everyone who has taken part in the recent consultation, and it is clear that there is local enthusiasm for the exciting plans for the new home of Ysgol Treferthyr.

“The current school building has seen better days and it would be uneconomical to continue maintaining the buildings for the future.

“Our aim is to build a new home for the school that will provide Criccieth children with modern facilities that will enable them to reach their full potential.”

‘Consultation’ 

Following a public consultation last November and December –  which invited comments from pupils, parents, staff and the community at large –  these views will be taken into account by the council’s cabinet next week as it seeks to launch a statutory notice on the proposals.

While such a process would not usually be required to build a replacement school, the fact that the school’s capacity would be expanded by more than 25% means that such steps have to be taken.

Ysgol Treferthyr had 114 pupils on the books in September 2019, just short of the school’s capacity of 119.
According to Gwynedd Council,  10 comments were received from parents, governors, the public and Estyn and 78 children’s questionnaires were filled during the consultation.

The 28 day statutory notice period will be launched if, as expected, the move is permitted by the council cabinet when it meets on Tuesday (January 26).