PLANS to build a £30million new school in Cwmbran will be discussed at a committee meeting next week.

Torfaen County Borough Council’s planners will consider giving the green light to a replacement 11- 16 school for Croesyceiliog Comprehensive.

This includes demolishing the existing school and building a floodlit artificial grass pitch, external play areas and car parking while also erecting a two storey sixth form and sports block.

However, the sixth form plans could be removed at a later stage following Welsh Government’s decision on sixth form provision in Torfaen county borough.

Wider council plans - under the 21st Century Schools Programme - propose removing all sixth form provision in Torfaen and replacing it with a £20million super college in Cwmbran.

This would see Croesyceiliog School, St Albans Roman Catholic School in Pontypool and Cwmbran High lose their sixth forms and a decision is expected this year.

A report due to be presented to planning next week on the Croesyceiliog site, states that “If the current application

is approved, if necessary, a further application could be submitted to vary any consent

to omit the sixth form from the development”.

The current application states that new school buildings would be in front of existing buildings bringing the school closer to Woodland Road.

The existing school would also be demolished when the new school is constructed and an all weather pitch placed where the existing school currently sits.

The proposed sports facilities would be available for community use outside school hours with the floodlit all-purpose pitch available between 5pm and 10pm on school days and 9am - 10pm on weekends and school holidays.

The application adds that there are currently 1,550 pupils at the school which will decrease to 1,450 by 2022.

Torfaen CBC confirm a proposed opening date of September 2019.

In consultation, Natural Resources Wales noted “significant concerns” with the proposed development.

The environmental organisation asked for further information to demonstrate the school plans would not affect the conservation status of bats and called for pollution prevention measures.

Four letters of representation were received from residents - three from Woodland Road and one from Turnpike Road.

Concerns ranged from pedestrian safety at the proposed car park to noise and fume pollution and disruption of contractors during the construction phase.

Other issues included the school "affecting the market value" of nearby properties.

Torfaen CBC officers recommend that the school is approved with several conditions ranging from ecology to highways before work is allowed to start,

Other conditions include the proposed all weather pitch's flood lights not operating outside the hours of 9am and 10pm and requirements to assess drainage, potential contamination and noise levels.

Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools programme helps councils modernise, improve and build new schools by providing 50 per cent match funding.

In Torfaen, it has helped the council deliver new schools Llantarnam Community Primary, Blenheim Road Community Primary and Ysgol Panteg.

To watch the meeting live, tune in to Torfaen CBC's webcast on Tuesday, September 26 at 4pm. Visit: www.torfaen.gov.uk and search 'webcast'.