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BBC News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Mystery reptiles delay new Welsh school opening in Bridgend
The opening of a new school has been delayed by two years because reptiles have been found on the Gymraeg Bro Ogwr, a Welsh medium school in Brackla, Bridgend, was due to move to a new location nearby this September but the council has put back the opening date to September council said "the presence of reptiles at the new site has caused a delay to the completion of the ecology work" but is not yet revealing which particular cold-blooded creatures have been animals, who will be found a new home over the summer, are likely to be slow-worms, grass snakes, adders, or South Wales West Senedd member Altaf Hussain said the delay was "devastating news for parents in Bridgend who wish for their children to learn through the medium of Welsh".Education Secretary Lynne Neagle called the later opening "regrettable" and said £500,000 had been provided for temporary expansion on the current site. Of the UK's six native reptile species, four have been found to be living in Bridgend county borough. These are:the slow-worm (anguis fragilis)grass snakes (natrix natrix)adder or European viper (vipera berus)the common or viviparous lizard (zootoca vivipara) The move to the larger site is expected to cost around £18.6m, with 525 places expected for children aged four to 11 as well as a 90-place said in the Senedd the extra places are "much needed in the local area" and that the delay is "devastating news".Neagle responded that the Welsh government is "working with the local authority to mitigate the impact of that on young people".She said this includes providing funding of nearly £500,000 to allow the short-term expansion of Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Ogwr, with two temporary classroom buildings from this September. 'Relocation of the reptiles' A spokesman for Bridgend County Borough Council told the BBC: "We remain focused on progressing school modernisation plans for a replacement Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Ogwr but the presence of reptiles at the new site has caused a delay to the completion of the ecology work."With this in mind and following consultation with the school's governing body, our cabinet recently approved a new opening date of September 2027. "The relocation of the reptiles is expected to take place over the coming summer period and further site investigation works will then be able to take place following the removal of the remaining scrub and brambles."Planning and architectural design work is continuing to take place and we look forward to providing further updates in the coming months."
Wales Online
26-06-2025
- General
- Wales Online
Completion date for new Bridgend school pushed back by two years
Completion date for new Bridgend school pushed back by two years It comes after delays to ecology work at the site which was held up due to the presence of reptiles Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Ogwr (Image: Rob Browne ) Bridgend Council's cabinet has approved a new date for the completion of a replacement school site for Ysgol Bro Ogwr based on the outskirts of Bridgend. Under the proposals the Welsh-medium primary school would relocate from its current location at Princess Way, Brackla, to a new-build facility on land off Ffordd Cadfan. The plans would see the site enlarged to help meet the local demand for places, with 525 places expected for learners aged four to 11 and a 90-place full-time-equivalent nursery. While the school was initially set to be completed by September 2025 a report given to members said this was no longer achievable because of delays with ecology work at the site, which were held up due to the presence of reptiles. It also said that the relocation of the reptiles was expected to take place over the summer of 2025 when the rest of the site would be able to be cleared of scrub and bramble. Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here . We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice It added that with the full planning application for the school currently being finalised a new completion date could be brought forward for September 2027. Article continues below This would coincide with the beginning of the 2027-28 school year. The report read: "The development of the scheme has been challenging due to the ecology issues which has prevented clearance of the Ffordd Cadfan site. "This has impacted on the original planned implementation date". The new date was later approved unanimously by councillors in attendance with the project expected to cost around £18.6m. A consultation on the proposals will also be carried out before the submission of a formal planning application to the council's planning department. Speaking at the meeting Councillor Martyn Jones of Garw Valley said: "We remain focused on delivering this project, which is now set at September 2027." For the latest Bridgend news sign up to our newsletter here. Article continues below The discussions around the school took place at a cabinet meeting in June and came just months after the announcement of new completion date for a replacement school for Mynydd Cynffig Primary in the village of Kenfig Hill. You can read more about the separate £17m project which has recently gone out to tender here.
