Go ahead given for £24m school

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A new school to be built on the site of an old coal washery has been given the go-ahead after a £24m private finance contract was awarded to a developer.

The school at Maesteg near Bridgend will be built and managed for 25 years by a consortium formed by Babcock and Brown.

The 1,200-pupil school will replace the split-site Maesteg Comprehensive and is expected to open in 2008.

A 750-pupil Welsh medium school will be established on one of the old sites.

The new school had been planned at the £10m regenerated washery site since work to clear the area began in February 2003.

But there have been several setbacks leading to a delay in securing the future of the new school.

Bridgend council leader Cheryl Green said she was "delighted" that the contract had been signed.

She said: "The project has had some setbacks, but I believe that the new school and the introduction of the council's first Welsh medium secondary school will benefit the whole community."

Head teacher of Maesteg Comprehensive, and also the new school, Anne Carhart added: "A state of the art single-site school in the heart of the community will provide a unique community resource and a stimulating environment to help us to continue to raise educational standards.''