PRIMARY school pupils are now moving into the new Ebbw Fawr Learning Community in Ebbw Vale as progress at The Works continues.

Pupils from Pen y Cwm School moved into their new building on the former steelworks last week.

They will be followed by pupils from Waunlwyd Primary on November 20 and Pontygof Primary School pupils on November 27.

The primary phase of the 3-16 Ebbw Fawr Learning Community will house 420 pupils in total, a 150 pupil Special Education Needs school and an Integrated Children’s Centre.

The two-storey steelframed school has been built on the old Hotmill plateau as part of the multi-million regeneration of The Works.

Facilities at the primary building include a large shared hall and dining space, hydrotherapy pool and sports hall, solar thermal panels and its own energy centre.

The building has so far cost £20,890 and the completed Learning Zone £30,332.

The whole programme currently has a funding surplus of £2.34 million to spend on live projects.

The council also expects to receive a large amount of its £6.64 million of grant funding from the Welsh Government this week.

Blaenau Gwent council’s director of environment and regeneration, John Parsons, said funding is now in place for the creation of the Main Square next to the Learning Zone.

This is also the case for providing a mechanical link or funicular railway next to the Learning Zone that will connect The Works to Ebbw Vale town centre and will provide disabled access between the two levels.

The council is in the process of going out to tender for this and Mr Parsons said they hope to have it functioning by next autumn.

He said the aspiration is also for the rail line in Ebbw Vale to extend past Ebbw Vale Parkway and stop at the General Offices at The Works.

He said the council is working with the Welsh Government and Network Rail on detailed designs for this.