WORK on the £30million replacement Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School site could start as early as next week after Torfaen council’s cabinet approved proposals to commence phase one of the project.

A special meeting was held at the civic centre in Pontypool on Thursday to determine whether the £3.79million could be release for enabling work.

The main contractor for the replacement school was approved in November 2016, with the council receiving match funding of £15million from the Welsh Government, linked to the 21st Century Schools Programme.

Rachel Jowitt, the council’s chief officer for neighbourhood services, said that the school was planned to be ready for September 2019 academic year.

“I understand that if the decision is made today, we are looking for the contractors to be on site next week. They are ready go hence why this special meeting was needed,” she said.

“There are two phases – phase one is for enabling – groundwork, site work, ecology, highways, etc. This is what this decision is about.”

The £3.79million for phase one will be spent on the following areas: £770,000 on site set-up; £16,000 on ecology work; groundworks of £1.44million; highway work at the Crownbridge School roundabout of £310,000; piling costs of £610,000 and service divisions of £644,000.

One aspect of the proposal highlighted at the meeting was the possible changes to the education in provision in Torfaen, but work at the site could not wait for the Welsh Government's pending decision.

"I think it is very important that cabinet are aware that this work is needed irrespective of the awaited outcome from Welsh Government on 11 to 16 or16 to 18 in terms of the post-16 provision within Torfaen," added Ms Jowitt.

"This work would need to be done and so that the cost is inclusive of whatever decision Welsh Government are coming forward with in due course."

She added that phase two was likely to come before cabinet in February or March in 2018, with construction of the replacement school required for completion in July 2019, ready for the new academic intake in September.

"Now that does not give much time for an academic year to starting September 2019 so the reason for this request for the change with no calling process for this decision is to allow us to stick to this absolute rigid timescale," the officer added.

Cllr Anthony Hunt, the leader of Torfaen council, added: “The clear fact is as outlined there is that the work needs to be done as a matter of urgency.

“That this work needs to be done whether it is 11 to 16 or 11 to 18 school we are planning for.”