New contractor in place for Welsh-medium childcare hub at Blackmill

Plans to create a new Welsh-medium childcare facility on land off the Isfryn Industrial Estate in Blackmill are back on track after the original contractor went into administration.

Bridgend County Borough Council has confirmed that it has sourced an alternative contractor, and that the work will now be carried out by local business Stafford Construction Ltd.

The work was originally intended to begin at the site in the summer. A new schedule is currently being finalised, and construction is expected to begin in the New Year.

The hub will be one of four all-new Welsh medium childcare facilities planned for Bridgend County Borough. Designed to serve the Ogmore Valley, the setting will provide 16 sessional Welsh-medium childcare places, together with six places for children up to two, and wraparound or out-of-school provision for 52 weeks of the year. The new Welsh-medium childcare hub will operate between 7am-7pm.

Once completed, it will feature new play space, quiet rooms, storage facilities, offices and a car parking area with room for up to seven vehicles. With new landscaping to the front and side of the hub, soft play facilities will be installed as well as a canopy capable of providing children with shelter and shade.

I am delighted that a new contractor has been appointed so quickly, and that the project is back on track.

We all want our children to have the very best start in life that we can possibly provide, and these new childcare hubs represent the latest investment into Welsh-medium provision within Bridgend County Borough.

This is going to be an outstanding facility for the people of the Ogmore Valley, one which will ably serve the community for many generations to come.

Deputy Leader Hywel Williams

Councillor Dhanisha Patel, Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Future Generations, added: “With work also underway on the childcare hub based at Bettws and plans in place to provide two further facilities in Bridgend and Porthcawl, this remains a substantial £2.8 million investment into Welsh-medium provision within Bridgend County Borough.

“It also demonstrates that Bridgend County Borough Council’s commitment towards increasing the number of Welsh speakers in the county borough is ongoing, and I am looking forward to seeing the new facility take shape early next year.”