A POT of £2million has been set aside to fund Colwall Primary’s School’s temporary new buildings for up to two years.
Herefordshire Council, which is responsible for the 190 pupil school, announced the money would come from contingency budgets set aside for emergencies and unexpected expenditure as well as funds allocated especially for repair and maintenance works. The council has also confirmed it is looking into obtaining support from the Government.
It comes after the Observer reported in July, that from September Colwall Primary School students would be taught out of a temporary ‘school village’ on the same site while investigations were carried out in the existing buildings to find the cause of long running problems with damp.
Initially the disruption was only expected to last 12 months but now the council has confirmed money has been set aside for twice that period of time ‘if necessary’.
Coun Jeremy Millar, cabinet member for young people and children’s wellbeing, said: “Along with partners we have been working very hard to find out why this problem is occurring at Colwall School and to put it right.
“We need to take action to ensure the children’s education continues in September 2014.
“Whilst we hope the costs do not reach the £2million made available, the important thing is that we are keeping the children together and close to their community.
“The school and wider Colwall community will be closely involved in deciding on the long term solution at the school, once investigation works are complete.”
Ever since the news was broken to parents, who thus far have been generally in support of the move, the school has been providing regular updates via its website.
Recent posts have stated a lot of progress has been made on the temporary site, on the existing school playground, and work was on ‘on schedule’.
A detailed floor plan of the proposed plans is available to view on the page and the separate portable buildings are set to delivered on different days with the key stage 2 block, admin block and half of the key stage 1 block due to be in place by the end of the week.
While the school hall and the remaining parts of the key stage 1 block are expected next week.
Visit www.colwallprimary.co.uk for more information on the work.
