New school for Parc y Tywyn

New school for Parc y Tywyn

CHILDREN in Burry Port and Pembrey can look forward to a new school built in a prime location near the harbour and clad with Welsh home grown timber.

Building work is well underway on the £9.6million Ysgol Parc y Tywyn at the former Burrows Yard.

It is due for completion by next summer and will be built to the highest energy efficiency standards, becoming the latest Passivhaus and BREEAM Excellent school building in Wales.

Welsh home grown timber will be the principal structural material, and locally sourced softwoods will provide the majority of the external rain cladding.

The new Welsh medium school is being delivered through Carmarthenshire County Council’s Modernising Education Programme, and is jointly funded by the Welsh Government.

Education executive board member Cllr Glynog Davies said: “It’s really good to see yet another new school being built which will provide a high quality environment for more Carmarthenshire children.

“It is being built to the highest energy efficiency standards using natural, locally sourced materials wherever possible.

“I look forward to seeing the children and staff move into their new home next year.”

The council has appointed Dawnus contractors to begin development of the new school, which will replace the existing Ysgol Parc y Tywyn.

The design and materials of the building will help it to maintain an ideal climate, with little need for complex technology, and underpinned by a commitment to natural materials, such as recycled newspaper for insulation.

Headteacher Donna Jenkins said: “Ysgol Parc y Tywyn has recently celebrated its 50th year of providing Welsh medium education for the children of Burry Port and Pembrey.

“During this time the school grown considerably, to the extent that the current building is no longer adequate to cater for the needs of all our pupils.

“It is therefore exciting and gratifying that the school will shortly have the benefit of a brand new, purpose built, state of the art school.

“The school will be situated at an idyllic location in the town, near the harbour, and will cater wonderfully for future generations to receive Welsh medium education in the area.”