Pupils learn how to build a bridge with help from bus station team

Potential engineers of the future have been learning how to build a bridge with the aid of the team constructing the new Merthyr Tydfil bus station.

Pupils at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School taking part in a ‘Have a Go’ team challenge built a miniature version of the Second Severn Crossing with support from contractors Morgan Sindall and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Wales Cymru.

The schoolchildren wore hard hats, high-vis vests, gloves and goggles to enjoy a first-hand experience of constructing the model suspension bridge, later getting the chance to walk across it and test their engineering skills.

The event was organised by the County Borough Council’s Economic Growth Partnership and The College Merthyr Tydfil, with the bridge provided by Morgan Sindall.

The Economic Growth Partnership comprises representatives of the local authority, Job Centre Plus, Careers Wales, The College Merthyr Tydfil, Merthyr Tydfil Institute for the Blind and Tydfil Training.

Council Leader Cllr Kevin O’Neill and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Public Protection Cllr Geraint Thomas popped in to watch the work in progress and were impressed by the speed in which the pupils completed their task.

Cllr Thomas said the Partnership and Morgan Sindall had worked together to organise a series of site visits to schools, both to give the pupils some fun activities to take part in and to stimulate interest in engineering as a possible career choice.

“The college will also be pushing via the schools to encourage engagement with female pupils and is also making plans to arrange a girls-only bus station site visit to show the opportunities available within the construction industry,” he added.

“The Economic Growth Partnership coordinated meetings between Morgan Sindall and the college to allow these fantastic opportunities for young students to come to fruition.”

St Mary’s School Executive Headteacher Karen Wathan said: “We’re grateful to Morgan Sindall in supporting our STEM activities through this wonderful opportunity for our children to see engineering in action - and hopefully encourage them to pursue careers in science.”

• The new Merthyr Tydfil bus station is currently being built on the site of the former police station in Swan Street, with an expected completion date of autumn this year.

Welsh Government has awarded the County Borough Council £10m funding for the station, which will be located closer to the town’s railway station, to complement its significant investment in the Core Valley Lines Rail Network.