New primary school set for January opening?

There is hope that Welshpool’s new multi-million pound primary school will be open for pupils “early next year”.

The 360-pupil Welshpool Church in Wales Primary School has been laden with problems since it had the go ahead to be built on the Salop Road sports fields.

The original contractor went bust, leaving Oswestry-based PaveAways to pick up the contract to see it through.

But with the Covid-19 pandemic putting a stop to work and any hope of opening in September, a new deadline of early 2021 has been set.

Last night it was confirmed that work had restarted with the building now watertight and photo voltaic panels also installed on the roof.

The staircases are now in place while the school kitchen walls are finished with hygienic wall finishes. The internal ventilation and data cabling work is almost complete and the first coat of paint has been applied in some areas of the school.

Cllr Phyl Davies, Cabinet Member for Education and Property, said: “I’m delighted with the progress that Pave Aways has made. This has been a difficult and testing time. We’ve had to revise our timetable to take into account the pause in work due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

“There are still uncertainties but I’m cautiously optimistic that pupils and teaching staff will be able to move into their new school early next year.

“This new school is an important part of our strategy to transform education in Powys. When complete, it will provide a learning environment that will allow learners and teaching staff to thrive and reach their potential.”

The school construction project is being funded by the Welsh Government 21st Century Schools Programme and is 50% funded by Powys County Council. The project is being delivered in partnership with Heart of Wales Property Services.

Steven Owen, Managing Director of Pave Aways, said: “We have made substantial progress despite the temporary suspension of work due to coronavirus.

“Our working policies and programmes have been adapted to ensure that work can continue to finish this important project whilst safeguarding the health and wellbeing of our team.

“It is really taking shape now and we will continue to work hard to complete the build as soon as possible.”