Ruthin Schools Plans Move A Step Closer

Plans to build brand new school buildings in the Ruthin area have moved a step closer after business cases for funding were approved by members of Denbighshire County Council, meeting in Ruthin today (Tuesday). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

One of the projects is to provide replacement school buildings and facilities for Ysgol Pen Barras and Rhos Street School on a new shared site in Ruthin. The project may also house current pupils, subject to parental preference from Ysgol Rhewl, which is scheduled to close in August 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The overall cost of the project is estimated to be £10.5 million. The Business Case agreed by the Council is to seek approximately 42% funding for the project from Welsh Government. The remaining £6.08 million has been identified by the Council as part of its 21st Century Schools programme funding. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It is expected that work would begin in September 2016 with completion in Summer 2017, subject to a final funding decision by Welsh Government. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The other project is for a new building for Ysgol Carreg Emlyn in Clocaenog. Ysgol Carreg Emlyn was formed in September 2014 to replace the previous schools at Ysgol Clocaenog and Ysgol Cyffylliog – with the school continuing to use both the old school sites. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The proposed business case is to seek approval from the Welsh Government for almost £1.4 million towards the work, with Denbighshire funding the rest of the project (total cost – £4.9 million). It is hoped that construction work could begin in November 2016, again subject to Welsh Government funding. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council wishes to emphasise that both proposals would be subject to planning permission. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Eryl Williams, Cabinet Lead Member for Education, said: “These projects have come as a result of the review of education provision in Ruthin and surrounding areas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Both the Pen Barras and Rhos Street schools are currently on the same site in another part of town and the buildings are in desperate need of being replaced. Our preferred option has been to locate both schools in brand new, state of the art buildings on the Glasdir site and plans have already been drawn up and shared with the public at a recent drop-in event. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Carreg Emlyn development is the next logical step in the history of the new school and detailed designs have already been drawn up. The next step would be to appoint a contractor to develop the detailed designs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Council is committed to providing fit for purpose education facilities for our children and young people and we are delighted to support these business cases. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The outcome of the business cases is expected from Welsh Government during May. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A third business case for a new area school for the Llanfair and Pentrecelyn areas will be submitted for discussion over the coming months. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​