Primary School in Cwmbran Could Get Year-Round Sports Pitch for Community Use

A PRIMARY school could receive a year-round sports pitch which will also be available for community use. 
A planning application has been made to replace and refurbish the existing school yard at a Cwmbran primary with a sand dressed (2G) artificial grass sports pitch. 
The remainder of the existing tarmacadam playground will be resurfaced with new court markings for netball and pickleball. 
Torfaen Borough Council’s education department has applied to the authority’s planning division for permission which will also include fencing around the pitch and floodlights on eight-metre-high poles. 
It has listed the school as Cwmbran Roman Catholic Primary but the Victoria Street school’s name is Our Lady of the Angels Roman Catholic Primary. 
A planning statement submitted with the application said the pitch will be suitable for year-round use and stated: ” The proposed pitch will provide an all-weather facility for football and other sporting activities, increasing opportunities for participation in physical activity throughout the year. 
“Works will also include the resurfacing of the remaining hard play area, incorporating new court markings for netball and pickleball. 
Detailed information on the proposed lighting, and technology to reduce spillage and to focus on the playing surface, are included with the application while it is also stated floodlighting will allow use beyond school hours. 
The statement explained: “The proposed improvements will provide a modern, high-quality sports facility that can be used by pupils during the school day and by local sports clubs and community groups outside school hours, helping to increase access to sport and recreation within the area.” 
A 1.2m high spectator fence will be provided on the school-facing side of the pitch which will be surrounded by a three metre high perimeter fence that will increase to five metres to provide “ball-stop protection” behind the goals and adjacent to Llywelyn Road. 
The school has 12 marked parking spaces with a large public car park, with more than 100 spaces, at the back of the school off Victoria Street which is considered adequate to meet demand including after school hours. 
There is a bus stop on Llywelyn Road, approximately 110 metres from the main school entrance. 
No significant changes to existing surface water runoff are anticipated as the proposal primarily involves the refurbishment and resurfacing of the existing hard play area while there will also be planting of mixed native species at the site to improve biodiversity and bird boxes for sparrows. 
The plans are being considered by the council’s planning department.  ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​