Latest Project News
August 2011
Progress has continued to be good and works have progressed on target. School staff and governors have visited the building and are thrilled with the results. We are extremely pleased that pupils will have full use of the new teaching block when school resumes in September. Development progress can be viewed by following the 'progress photographs' link on the left.
The contractor, Kier Western, is busily preparing for the next phase of the project which is the construction of a new teaching and dining block housing the new dining hall and kitchen together with art and drama classes to the north of the existing main school block.
June 2011
Progress remains good with the anticipated completion date of July still on target. Development progress can be viewed by following the 'progress photographs' link on the left.
May 2011
Progress remains good with the anticipated completion date of July still on target. Development progress can be viewed by following the 'progress photographs' link on the left.
During the Whitsun holidays, further refurbishment works were undertaken in the existing school building and the Lilian Jones Block to progress the access to the new link corridor and the new teaching block. A platform lift was also installed into the main school hall, allowing better access for wheelchair users onto the stage and into the existing refractory.
The residents' evening on 19th May 2011 was not well attended and no further resident evenings will be held for the Phase Two works. The contractor's site compound for phase two works will start to be de-commissioned during June and will be removed by the Autumn, with the ground and playing fields reinstated.
A
letter| was forwarded to those residents who live closest to the next phase of construction works and a residents evening is planned for them in September. The details will be advised in due course.
April 2011
Progress remains good with the anticipated completion date of July still on target. Development progress can be viewed by following the 'progress photographs' link on the left.
On 14th April, a small tree planting ceremony was held to mark the end of Phase One of the works - the school's new on site coach park.
During the Easter holidays a new gas main was installed and a water connection undertaken. This necessitated restricting vehicular access to the site in different phases and at different times. Pedestrian access and the right of way were maintained throughout.
The work was undertaken in three phases and the following links provide a sketch showing how vehicular access was affected:
Also during the Easter holidays, work to 'break in' to the existing school buildings continued with connections made from the new link corridor to the Lilian Jones Block. New corridors were added to the existing school building, which when available for use, will lead to the new link corridor.
On
19th May at 6.30pm, the contractor, Kier Western will be hosting another resident evening for those that live closest to the development to attend and raise any queries about the development. A
flyer| has been distributed to neighbouring homes.
March 2011
Progress remains good with much of the external works nearing completion. Internal walls and floors are also nearing completion. The mechanical and electrical fix is progressing well and the energy centre external works are complete. As always, latest images can be viewed under the 'progress photographs' link on the left.
February 2011
Progress remains good with brickwork, roofing, drainage, windows, energy centre, energy centre retaining wall and mechanical and engineering fixes continuing to be installed. As always, latest images can be viewed under the 'progress photographs' link on the left.
During the February half-term, the new fire main was installed to the Energy Centre. Other new main services will be installed during the Easter holidays.
The school's BTEC construction group undertook a site visit during the month to see construction methods first hand and ask the contractors questions. They were impressed with the building and in particular the width of stairs and corridors.
January 2011
Progress remains good although the cold weather has affected progress of the roof and the brickwork. However, overall the new teaching block is anticipated to be handed over on time. Latest images can be viewed under the 'progress photographs' link on the left.
External drainage is being installed as are the clearstorey windows to high level. The first mechanical (plumbing and heating) and electrical (main power etc) fixes are underway.
The energy centre foundations are complete and construction of the building is underway. The retaining wall is also being faced with brick as the weather allows.
During January, Year 7 pupils participated in bulb planting - they have planted a large 'G' for Gwynllyw which will be awash with yellow daffodils in the spring as you approach the school. This event was organised by Kier Western who also provided all bulbs and tools.
The tech resistant materials classes (woodwork and metalwork) received a donation of tools from Kier Western and the art department were also provided with paint and equipment to use as an art project to decorate the wooden construction hoarding throughout the site.
December 2010
Progress remains good despite the early cold snap and the overall programme remains on target. Latest images can be viewed under the 'progress photographs' link on the left.
External and internal brickwork, drainage and the roof installation are all underway and it is anticipated that the building will be mostly watertight by Christmas, allowing the mechanical (plumbing and heating) and electrical services (main power etc, in) to start early in the new year.
The energy centre retaining walls have been completed and the foundations are currently being laid with the building itself to be constructed early in the New Year.
The first
residents open evening| was held on 2nd December 2010. A further open evening will be planned for March 2011. The open evenings offer residents who neighbour the development an opportunity to hear about progress and more importantly raise any concerns or issues. A flyer advertising the event will be delivered to neighbouring properties and a copy posted on this website.
During the Christmas and New Year holidays, if you have any concerns about the site or see anything suspicious, please call the council on 01495 762200. The council will be holding a list of emergency contacts and can pass on any information or concerns to the relevant people. If a serious situation arises or one that could cause harm, then please call the police directly.
Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
October 2010
Construction of the teaching block continues to progress well and is on target for a July 2011 completion, as programmed. Latest images can be viewed under the 'progress photographs' link on the left.
Foundation work for the new teaching block is now complete and the steel structure, concrete stairs and link corridor have been installed. Work is progressing on installing concrete floors and drainage. The roof will be affixed in the next two months.
The new energy centre, which is being built between the existing portacabins and the Bowden Centre, is also on programme. The retaining wall has been built and the construction of the Energy Centre itself will commence shortly.
The new on site coach park is working very well, making home time much easier for pupils and staff. We have received no adverse comments from the community about the new coach park and hope therefore that it has alleviated some of the difficulties previously experienced.
The contractor intends hosting an open evening in early December for immediate residents to raise any questions or concerns about the development. Further details will be posted to this website when the date, time and venue are fixed.
July/August 2010
Construction is progressing well and the foundations continue to be laid.
From 31st July until 7th August, the project had a stand at the National Eisteddfod, next to the school stand, highlighting the collaborative work being undertaken within Education in South East Wales, the availability of Welsh Medium education at primary level in each of the authority areas and the extension and refurbishment of YGG.
The stand was manned by representatives from Blaenau Gwent, Newport and Torfaen councils, and Kier Western. Kier Western, the contractor for the YGG development, also provided prizes and 'freebies' for two children's competitions.
'Ivor GoodSite', a building site safety mascot, made a very popular appearance on a number of days!
June 2010
Construction is officially underway with preparatory work for the foundations and the foundations themselves being laid. Monthly progress photographs will be posted to the website - follow the link on the left.
The coach park issues have been resolved and a loaded bus trial conducted, with success. Bus operators will practice over the summer holidays and the coach park will be fully operational from September.
May 2010
On Monday 24th May, the Assembly Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning, Leighton Andrews attended a sod cutting ceremony to mark the beginning of construction. The event was also attended by senior representatives from each of the authorities who are financially contributing toward the extension and partial refurbishment project, a senior representative from the school and representatives from the governing body, RHAG and the Welsh Language Board.
The new coach park was completed on 28th May. The council identified two issues that need to be resolved before it can be handed to the school for operational use. The issues will take approximately 6 weeks to resolve and following discussions with the school it has been agreed that the coach park will be made operational from September.
April 2010
The new hard yard was handed over to the school in mid April as had been planned. Work continued on the new on site coach park, which is due for handover week commencing 24th May and before half term. The coach park will therefore be operational when the pupils return from the Whitsun break.
The site set-up for Phase Two of the construction works, the new teaching block, began on 26th April and continues. Construction work on this new block will begin in earnest in May. The programme is anticipated to be just over one year and at this early stage it is still expected that the new teaching block will be available for occupation in September 2011.
March 2010
On 9th March 2010, full planning permission was granted for the extension and refurbishment of Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw.
The first building to be constructed will be the new teaching block to the west of the existing school buildings. Construction of the new teaching block will begin in mid May and will take just over one year.
In advance of the main build, the contractor, Kier Western, will set-up the construction site with their offices and welfare units. A copy of the newsletter distributed to immediate neighbours| about the site set up and how it will look is available to download here. Further information about site set-up will be posted on this website in due course.
February 2010
The public planning event was held on 1st February and all comments received forwarded to the Planning Officer. The application is on programme to be heard by the 9th March Planning Committee, which is open to members of the public to attend. The meeting starts at 4pm and is held in the Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Pontypool. If planning permission is granted at this meeting, construction of the new teaching block is due to start in mid May.
The unprecedented weather in November, December, January and February has affected progress on Phase One. The new on site coach park will now be completed mid May and not end March as had originally been intended. All other items of work relating to Phase One will be completed within this timeframe. The installation of drainage on the playing fields has started as has the construction of the new hard yard behind the Lilian Jones building.
December 2009
The full planning application was submitted and registered. An eight week consultation period will follow and it is anticipated that the application will be considered by the Planning Committee in March 2010.
To complement the statutory planning process, a public planning event will be held at the school to enable residents, parents and others to view the planning application and provide any comment, which will be forwarded to the Planning Officer for their consideration. The public planning event is currently being arranged and details will be posted to this website and advertised widely through flyers| and in local community newsletters.
You can view the plans that were submitted as part of the planning application here - site plan|, ground floor teaching block|, first floor teaching block|, ground floor dining block|, first floor dining block|.
w/c 9 November 2009
The new car park was handed over to the school.
12 October 2009
Phase One Construction began.
4 September 2009
Three further demountable classrooms were added to meet the 2009 demand for places.
3 September 2009
The Executive Member for Children and Young People determined that the extension and refurbishment should proceed.
25 August 2009
Planning approval for the coach park, additional parking, new hard standing play area and reparation of the existing playing fields (Phase One) was granted.
20 July 2009
The statutory objection period ended. Although some objections had been received during the formal consultation, no objections were received during the statutory objection period, which meant that the matter could be determined by the Executive Member for Children and Young People at Torfaen County Borough Council.