A PLAN to give Thornwell a new £3.5 million school has met a further setback.

Monmouthshire council has revised its timetable for construction in Chepstow because of ongoing discussions with Welsh Water about diverting a main sewer pipe.

It’s the latest blow to the project after the school’s head expressed her excitement last October that building work was due to start in May.

That has now been put off until July 2013, the council says.

“Work on the new building will now start at the beginning of the summer holidays. This will help in avoiding the disturbance that temporary site buildings and the start of demolition would cause to the school,” a spokesman said.

The project has been dogged by hold-ups and the planning application has still not been put before the council’s planning committee.

It was originally meant to be submitted in November and then at the end of December.

We reported last month the council was paying Welsh Water £34,602 to draw up plans to divert the main sewer.

The Monmouthshire council spokesman added the Thornwell planning application will be submitted the last week of January or early February.

Head teacher Linda Davies sent a letter to parents last week, informing them of the Welsh Water negotiations.

She said: “We are disappointed with the delay obviously as everyone associated with the school would like the building done as soon as possible but unfortunately it’s outside our control.

“It’s a pipe apparently that only they (Welsh Water) can move. I presume the costings will be in the plans,” she added.

The new school is being funded by £1,530,226 from the council and £1,969,774 from the fire insurance.