Transport Works Start In Readiness For New Swansea School

Work on the creation of two new lay-bys and a pelican crossing for the re-built YGG Lon Las primary school is due to start this week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

YGG Lon Las is a 500-pupil Welsh medium primary school being built in Llansamlet, Swansea. The £9.7m project is jointly-funded by the Welsh Government and the local council and is due for completion by autumn, 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Demolition of the existing school is almost complete and the next step is the construction of two lay-bys on each side of Blawdd Road, each more than 100m long. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Although the building work is being done by construction firm Dawnus, Swansea Council’s highways team will be on-site from this week to build the lay-bys. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Local residents are being kept informed of progress through regular updates and mailshots. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Stuart Davies, head of highways at Swansea Council, said: “The lay-bys and pelican crossing are being created to ensure that the safety of children at the start and end of the school day is our top priority. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Like other Welsh medium schools, pupils often come to school by council-supported bus services, so the two lay-bys will make it easier for children to be dropped off and picked up safely. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The new lay-bys will also minimise issues outside the school for regular traffic and for residents using Blawdd Road. The school run at all schools is the busiest time of day outside any school and the work we’re doing will go a long way to ensure things go smoothly.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He added: “We’ve been in touch with local residents and Councillors to keep them informed of the construction work. We’re also determined to keep any disruption to a minimum while the work goes ahead.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Currently pupils from Lon Las are being accommodated in a temporary home on the site of the former Y Cwm primary school. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The buildings now demolished were old, in a poor condition and increasingly expensive to maintain. The new school will provide a safe, sound and fit-for-purpose education environment and, at the same time, help accommodate rising demand for Welsh medium education in the north of Swansea. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​