Cabinet to discuss report on ‘unsuitable’ site for new school

The Cabinet of Bridgend County Borough Council will meet next week to receive a report on the outcome of a feasibility study which has been carried out on the potential site of a new Welsh-medium primary school. 

The feasibility study was arranged after land located at Brackla Hill was identified as being a possible location for establishing a new Welsh-medium primary school intended to replace the ageing Ysgol Bro Ogwr, which is also based within Brackla.

The report going before Cabinet reveals that the feasibility study has concluded the Brackla Hill site is unsuitable for such a development, and should no longer form an option within the council’s ongoing school modernisation plans.

The study found that development costs for a new school would be far higher than originally anticipated for reasons which include significant cut-and-fill earthworks related to the topography of the site.

Issues surrounding access and the proposed junction configuration off Brackla Way have also been identified by the study, as well as the likelihood of an increased construction period with longer-term inconvenience for the local community, and a significant reduction in the amount of remaining public open space.

The report concludes by asking Cabinet to discount the Brackla Hill site, and to agree for alternative options to be explored instead.

• Cabinet will meet to discuss the report and the outcomes of the feasibility study at 2.30pm on Tuesday 9 February.