Anger at £4 million extra schools project cost

The project was to build a Welsh and English medium school in Welshpool in place of a number of current primary schools at a cost of £12.9 million.

Powys County Council had secured government funding for the build, which included knocking down the Maesydre school, now called Ysgol Gymraeg y Trallwng, and building a new school.

However, it was thrown into doubt when a group asked Cadw, which looks after listed buildings, to apply listed status to the building.

That was granted earlier this year and a paper being considered by the council’s cabinet this week says the overall cost of the build is now £16,794,285, which is £3.8 million extra.

County councillor Graham Breeze said: “This is devastating news, coming at a time when the council is looking to make significant budget savings.

“I was strongly opposed to Cadw’s 11th-hour intervention, knowing full well that any delay to this scheme would have massive implications, not only financially but for the education of the town’s children.

Disappointing

"Those who made such a late application to Cadw need to take a long hard look at themselves. They are responsible for costing the council the large part of an additional £3.8 million and delaying the provision of this valuable Welsh language school.

"It is also very disappointing that as one of the local councillors I was not warned of the enormous additional costs involved in coming up with a scheme to maintain part of the old school in the new designs."

Now the former Maesydre building will be incorporated into the new build, and have 150 places for pupils, with the English medium site having 360 places.

The re-design has led to the significant cost increase. Also on the site of the new English medium school, investigations have found topsoil needs removing and re-filling due to historical use of the land.

Councillor Breeze believe it is impossible to sanction this cost increase, and is suggesting the council reduces the size of the project.

He added: "On top of that we now discover there are additional costs involved with top soil on the site of the new school to be built on Salop Road playing fields. If the proper surveys weren’t completed we need to know why not.

"I find it impossible to support this additional spend for Ysgol Gymraeg y Trallwng and will be suggesting the council seriously considers downsizing the project. I am yet to be convinced that we need a school with 150 places."