Turf-cutting ceremony gets school under way (From Free Press Series)

Turf-cutting ceremony gets school under way

WORK on a controversial new £6.6 million primary school is set to get under way this week.

The move marks the end of a long-running battle between parents in Abergavenny and Monmouthshire council.

For two years, parents have fought the council's Strategic Review of Education and its proposals to close St David's Junior, Croesonen Infants and Llwynu Infants and replace them with a new primary school on the Llwynu site.

But in a show of unity, pupils from all three schools took part in the official turf-cutting ceremony last week.

It is now hoped that the community will be able to put the row behind them and pupils will be able to start classes at the new school in September 2005.

Monmouthshire councillor Verona Nelmes, cabinet member for social services and governor at Llwynu Infants School, welcomed the news.

She said: "Some of us have waited a very long time for this. To see work started is great and it's wonderful to see children digging the turf and not council officials with their chains."

Cardiff-based contractor E Turner & Sons was yesterday due to start work on the construction of the new state-of-the-art school.

The primary school will provide infant and junior classrooms, a special educational needs section and a multi-purpose hall.

Pupils will also have access to playing fields and an all-weather play area.

In addition to the traditional facilities, the purpose-built school will house an early years and community centre with a nursery, health visitor centre, crche, and a SureStart office.

Robert O'Dwyer from Monmouthshire county council said: "This is a landmark project in terms of education provision in Abergavenny.

"We hope that the whole community joins in supporting this project to completion over the coming 18 months.

"We are confident that this project will be completed on time and within budget."