Consultation on revised options for Merthyr Tydfil’s 3-16 VA Catholic school

After considering all the feedback from public consultations held in 2021, the County Borough Council is consulting further on revised options for the siting of the new 3-16 VA Catholic school.

The two revised options now proposed are:

Option A – Greenie, with additional open space on current Bishop Hedley High School (BHHS) phase 2. This is the previous Option 2 with the following changes made in response to the previous consultation:

• the community playground would be relocated near to the current community MUGA.
• the community changing rooms would be relocated to the Buttercup Fields next to the community grass pitch and shared 3G pitch.
• an additional green space community facility has been included on Phase 2 (Upper Site) of the current BHHS site.
• safe pedestrian route provided from the location of the Greenie playing fields to the Buttercup Fields, and new community space on the BHHS Phase 2 site.

As per the previous option, the school building with car parking and drop-off would be located on the Greenie playing fields, with both fields relocated to the Buttercup fields. One of the playing fields would be a shared school/community 3G all-weather football pitch, and the other would be open access to the community.

• Option B – Current BHHS site with school rugby pitch on one of the Buttercup Fields. This is a brand new option. The school building and primary drop-off and primary play areas located on Phase 2 of the current BHHS site, with car parking, sports hall and sports pitches on Phase 1 of the site. A school rugby pitch to be located on plateau 2 of the Buttercup Fields.

This new consultation is being undertaken in line with the Playing Fields (Community Involvement in Disposal Decisions) (Wales) Regulations 2015, and gives all stakeholders - including users of the fields, local residents, parents, pupils, staff, school governors, parishioners and other interested parties - an opportunity to comment on the updated proposals and help support a Council decision on the location of the school.

The consultation is running for 6 weeks from Thursday, 6 January to Thursday, 17 February 2022 and the consultation survey and proposal details, including site plans, can be accessed online via the following link:   

https://www.merthyr.gov.uk/vaschool

Alternatively, hard copies can be requested from the Council, either by telephoning 01685 725000 or emailing 3-16vaschool@merthyr.gov.uk  Responses need to be returned to the Council marked FAO 3-16 School Project by 17 February.

Please be advised that the during the consultation period the process will be continually reviewed and based on stakeholder feedback, additional engagement activities may be added.

Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Education Cllr Lisa Mytton said: “Full Council has considered all the feedback from the previous public consultations and agreed revised options to consult further with the public.

“These include an option to develop the existing BHHS sites to give everyone a real alternative to developing the school building on the Greenie.

“The option to develop the Greenie now includes provision of more green open space for the community to further enhance provision of new community facilities across the Greenie, Buttercup Fields and current BHHS sites.

“We want to provide the best solution for the whole community with this school – for pupils, residents and users of the field - and your feedback is vital to this decision.”