PLANS for a £20million super college to replace all sixth forms in Torfaen county borough have been delayed to 2020.

The Torfaen Council centre - operated by Coleg Gwent - was expected to open in September 2019 but has now been pushed back due to ongoing site surveys and exploration.

Torfaen County Borough Council state that these measures are “taking longer than originally planned” but added that “several major milestones” are due to be completed this year.

If approved by Welsh Government, the 1,000-place college would replace sixth forms at Croesyceiliog School, Cwmbran High and St Alban’s Roman Catholic School in Pontypool.

As previously reported, the plans have ignited strong opposition including 81 letters of objection and a petition reaching nearly 1,000 signatures.

Headteacher of St Albans at the time, Michael Coady, added sixth form closures could “force highly experienced staff out of the system”.

A decision from Welsh Government is expected this year and a construction plan will be drawn up with a estimated 70 week build.

Torfaen CBC’s executive member for education and lifelong learning, Cllr David Yeowell, said: “This is a prime location on the edge of Cwmbran town centre.

“The site is being prepared so that the whole area for potential development will be ready when construction work starts on the new 6th form centre.

“This site preparation work is ongoing and is taking longer than anticipated, which has put pressure on the project timeline.

“To avoid uncertainty for pupils and staff, the council has taken an early decision to agree a new opening date of September 2020”.

He added: “Although the new centre will open to pupils a year later than originally planned, it will reduce potential disruption around the site when students are learning in the new facility and will secure a better development overall.”

Planning applications covering the construction of an access road, a whole site masterplan and finally a full application for the 6th form centre itself, will be submitted over the next few months.

Pupils who have just started year 11 and wishing to undertake A Levels in school will complete their studies in their school 6th form with current year 10 pupils the first Torfaen students to set foot in the new facility.

The super college is in Band A of the council’s  ‘21st Century Schools’ plan which has already seen several schools refurbished and three new schools open.

A Coleg Gwent spokesman added: “We’re committed to working with Torfaen CBC to move the project forward.”