Council backs £42m school investment plan (From Barry And District News)

Council backs £42m school investment plan

THE VALE council has unanimously approved a 42 million investment in three Vale secondary schools.

Some 14.4 million will be spent on Cowbridge Comprehensive, with work due to start in autumn 2006.

Then in autumn 2008, 13.4 million worth of work will begin on St Cyres Penarth - which will involve the eventual closure of the Dinas Powys site.

And in 2010, work will start at Llantwit Major Comprehensive, where 14.3 million will be spent.

The investment will fund a combination of demolition and new-build and redevelopment of existing buildings, providing the schools with state-of-the-art facilities.

Brian Lightman, head teacher at St Cyres, said: "The need for replacement buildings has been well known for a long time.

"The governors are aware that the school's outstanding successes over recent years have been achieved in spite of aged premises, which are not fit for purpose in the 21st century.

"The Vale cabinet proposal is the culmination of a vast amount of work and is warmly welcomed.

"Approval by full council will enable us to commence detailed planning, and the work will provide enormous benefits to the students and the entire local community."

The council estimates that it will need to find around 68m of capital monies for its school investment strategy, which involves work on other schools in the Vale.

It has already identified funding of 53m to meet its programme, and it is proposed that the strategy will be phased over 10 years, starting in 2006-07.

Council leader Cllr Jeffrey James said: "The Vale School Investment Strategy represents a major challenge for this Council, but it is an exciting prospect and we are planning on developing modern schools that serve the needs of pupils and the wider community.