Demolition starts this week on old Welsh school

Work is beginning on dismantling the old Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Lôn Las buildings to make way for a multi-million pound new school on the site. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Welsh Medium primary school, which is home to more than 500 pupils, will be demolished over the next two months so that building can start on a brand new 21st Century school fully equipped with the latest educational facilities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The old school closed on January 15 this year and pupils have now settled into temporary school facilities in the grounds of Ysgol Gymraeg Y Cwm, in Bonymaen, so their education can continue undisrupted while the demolition and building work takes place. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Swansea Council’s Education and Corporate Property and Buildings services are working with locally-based contractors Dawnus to create the new school which is expected to open in the Autumn term 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Jen Raynor, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “The old buildings are in poor condition and were increasingly expensive to maintain. I am delighted they are now making way for purpose built, efficient, quality teaching facilities that can house 21st Century learning. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The new school will also help meet growing demand for Welsh Medium education in the city.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The £9.7 million new school project in Llansamlet is jointly funded by Swansea Council and the Welsh Government. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It’s part of Swansea Council’s QEd 2020 programme which is investing tens of millions of pounds in improving school facilities across the city. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The programme has already seen building replacements and upgrades at Burlais and Gowerton Primaries, Cefn Hengoed and Morriston Comprehensives, and new classrooms at Newton and Glyncollen. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Swansea Council will be working closely with its contractors Dawnus to minimise disruption to neighbouring residents around the development site. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Updates on the Lôn Las project will be provided through newsletters and posted on the Council website at www.swansea.gov.uk/newygglonlasbuild ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​