Investigative works to commence to determine suitability of site for new Ysgol Gymraeg Dewi Sant building

(Joint statement between Carmarthenshire County Council and Ysgol Gymraeg Dewi Sant Board of Governors)

As part of the Local Authority’s Modernising Education Programme’s process to secure a suitable site for a replacement school building for Ysgol Gymraeg Dewi Sant, Carmarthenshire County Council will be exploring the feasibility of utilising the Llanelli Leisure Centre Site, which will vacate the site following the completion of Phase 1 of the Pentre Awel Development.

Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language - Cllr Glynog Davies said:

In what is a key milestone in securing the provision of Welsh Medium Primary Education in Llanelli for future generations, the Local Authority will soon begin investigative works on the Llanelli Leisure Centre site to determine its suitability, this will include developing the proposal to build a replacement school building for Ysgol Gymraeg Dewi Sant on the Llanelli Leisure Centre Site to Outline Planning Stage. The outcome of the Outline Planning will inform the possibility of locating the replacement school building for Ysgol Gymraeg Dewi Sant on the Llanelli Leisure Centre Site.”

Chair of Ysgol Gymraeg Dewi Sant Governing Body, Michael Bassett said:

For many years, we as a body have waited patiently for a suitable site for our school and we are very aware that it’s not just our school that is waiting for a suitable site in the county. We have trusted the process set by the authority of earmarking a suitable site and are pleased to hear that the authority is investigating a particular site in the hope that it will offer our school a suitable new home.

A recent report by Estyn inspectors states that teaching standards at the school are of the highest standard, and I would like to thank all the school staff and pupils for their patience and excellent work. We very much hope that these early investigations will enable the school to develop and promote the Welsh language in the town."

Should the investigative works identify the Llanelli Leisure Centre site as a feasible location to locate the new Ysgol Gymraeg Dewi Sant building, appropriate business cases to be agreed by Welsh Government and consultation processes will be instigated.