Why the need?
Blaenavon is a community of nearly 6,000 citizens that enjoys World Heritage Status for its Ironworks and cottages, recently featured in the televised ‘Coal House’ social documentary.
In terms of how it compares against the rest of the Borough and Wales:
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Home ownership is lower;
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Car ownership is significantly lower;
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Economic inactivity is almost double with 17% registered as long-term unemployed and 39% of all those unemployed aged 24 and under;
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Those registered as having long term illnesses are significantly higher;
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Higher educational achievement is lower; and
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The number of 16-24 year olds leaving school with no qualifications is twice that of the Borough and three times that in Wales.
There is therefore considerable evidence of deprivation in the area, requiring long-term investment.
The current doctors surgery, although under 20 years old, has reached its maximum capacity and there is insufficient room in the building to meet current and future demands. A solution is needed to enable the Local Health Board to cope with the needs of the population and suitably provide for the next 15 years or so. Integrating health and care services together across primary and secondary care is the only tangible option for meeting need within continuing financial constraints.
Blaenavon Health Care Unit Carreg Wen Surgery
The current nursery and two primary schools, while being recognised as good schools by the Authority and ESTYN which have served the Blaenavon community for many years, are in buildings that are in a poor state of repair, are not fit for purpose, do not meet modern teaching and learning needs and limit the range of educational facilities that the schools can provide.
Exterior view of Hillside School Interior view of Hillside School
It has long been recognised that these school buildings are amongst some of the poorest in Torfaen; the sufficiency, suitability and condition of all three schools place them amongst the highest priority needs in the borough.
The cost of repairing these buildings is beyond the financial means of the Authority and would only effectively make them wind and watertight, thereby not making the repairs good value for money. In essence, the life of the buildings has expired and the only tangible option is to replace them with a purpose built, community focussed school that will greatly serve the needs of the whole community.
In a report in January 2007 (An evaluation of performance of schools before and after moving into new buildings or significantly refurbished premises) ESTYN published its view that better buildings contribute to improving one or more performance areas.
In its most recent Annual Report, it stated that "In nearly all schools with new or refurbished buildings, we have seen improvements in the quality of teaching and standards of pupils’ work. In some cases, the improvement in standards has been significant, particularly in a few schools in communities that have a high level of social economic deprivation".
Furthermore, there is strong evidence of a correlation between educational attainment and current and future health status.
In terms of Leisure provision, the town had enjoyed a recreation centre and an indoor swimming pool. However, both were costly to run and suffered significant storm damage in the winter of 2006. In line with its corporate priorities, the Authority took a very difficult investment decision to close the recreation centre and swimming pool during 2007 and both were eventually demolished at the end of 2007, thereby removing local leisure facilities. It was the Authority's decision to use the resource needed to continue to run the pool to better invest in improving educational outcomes.
The whole development therefore represents a high return for the community, which will link with other regeneration activity within the town and which will impact upon many of the indicators of disadvantage which have led to part of Blaenavon being allocated Communities First status.
The development of services will be based on need and will be consistent with the Authority’s Corporate Plan, contributing to all of the main priorities apart from waste management. Consultation on health and medical needs has been undertaken by the LHB and consultation on leisure provision is planned as part of the programme. Statutory consultation on educational provision will also be undertaken.
It is intended that the campus will be open in early 2012.