Work Starts On New Ysgol Parc Y Tywyn

Burry Port pupils Harri Williams and Evie Bowen have cut the first sod to mark the start of their new eco-friendly primary school. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Carmarthenshire County Council has appointed Dawnus contractors to begin development of the town’s new £9.6m Welsh Medium primary school, which will replace the existing Ysgol Parc y Tywyn. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new school building, at the former Burrows Yard near the Harbour, is due for completion by Summer 2018, and will be built to the highest energy efficient standards. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Designed by the council’s own architects as part of its Modernising Education Programme, the school will be the latest Passivhaus and BREEAM standard school building in the county – construction industry standards that measure excellence in eco-friendly design. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The design and materials of the building will help it to maintain an ideal climate, with little need for technology. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It will also use home-grown timber as its principal structural material, as well as incorporating Welsh softwoods in external rain screen cladding. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new school will provide a high quality learning environment for pupils, including learners with special and additional needs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It has been equally funded by Carmarthenshire County Council and Welsh Government. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Headteacher Donna Jenkins said: “Ysgol Parc y Tywyn has recently celebrated its 50th year of providing Welsh medium education for the children of Burry Port and Pembrey. During this time the school grown considerably, to the extent that the current building is no longer adequate to cater for the needs of all our pupils. It is therefore exciting and gratifying that the school will shortly have the benefit of a brand new, purpose built, state of the art school. The school will be situated at an idyllic location in the town, near the harbour, and will cater wonderfully for future generations to receive Welsh medium education in the area.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Gareth Jones, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board Member for education, said: “I’m pleased to see the start of yet another 21st century school as part of our Modernising Education Programme. The new Ysgol Parc y Tywyn will provide a first class learning environment for pupils and teachers and we’re delighted to see work beginning.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​