THE former steward’s house at Ebbw Vale’s Welfare Park could be turned into a referral unit for school pupils with behavioural difficulties.

A meeting of Blaenau Gwent council’s planning committee will meet on Thursday to decide whether to approve planning permission for the new learning facility.

The house sits on the south boundary of the Eugene Cross Park in Ebbw Vale, also known as the Welfare Park, and is home to Ebbw Vale Rugby Football Club and Ebbw Vale Cricket Club. It originally provided accommodation to the steward of the park but now lies vacant.

An application has been submitted by the council to change the use of the house into a facility teaching 14 pupils aged 11 to 16 who have social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

The 14 pupils currently belong to the council’s pupil referral unit Canolfan yr Afon, at Pontygof Primary School, but are mainly taught at home or elsewhere in the community. The proposals would mean they would have a building to be taught in.

But concerns have been raised by councillor Derek Coughlin, ward member for Ebbw Vale North, who has questioned the suitability of the premises.

According to a report submitted to the council, cllr Coughlin said the premises are set between two public houses with a beer garden to the one side of the house and questioned “the effect this may have on the children watching people drink alcohol and smoke in front of them”.

Cllr Coughlin also said: “Pontygof School was opened by this council to save money by selling off other properties. In times of austerity I cannot see how we put yet another financial burden upon use.”

But the planning report recommends the proposals are granted planning permission.

In the report, Blaenau Gwent council’s head of technical services said: “We are trying to create a specific learning environment for a group of pupils whom have very different needs.

“That is why the house is such an important feature as it will help to alleviate anxiety levels for some of the pupils.

“This group will not attend any school site or centre, but pupil voice who have been fully consulted in this process have been very favourable to the new house as a learning environment.”

Councillors will decide at a meeting on Thursday at 2pm whether to approve the application.