AN £18.5 MILLION community regeneration scheme in New Tredegar has remained on target despite a big push to preserve local wildlife. A new primary school with a community wing will open its doors at the start of the school term in September.

A new relief road is being driven through the village and a small business park with incubator units created.

But concerns about disrupting the local ecology have been tackled by appointing ecologists to advise Caerphilly council and its contractors about how to handle the situation.

One example of this was a recent reptile capture, which was used to protect slow-worms and other creatures that might have been affected by the works.

Special traps were laid and the reptiles were moved to new habitats where they can live undisturbed.

Project manager Colin Jones said: "This flagship regeneration scheme is leading the way in Wales and we are keen to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to lessen any environmental impacts and promote sustainability.

"We are on target to open the school in September, and after that the focus will shift to other schemes which are helping to transform the fortunes of the village."