Ebbw Vale children given construction industry insight

Children at an Ebbw Vale primary school were given a special insight into the construction industry and the building work currently taking place in their area.

Year Three and Year Four pupils at Glyncoed Primary School on Badminton Grove were treated to a visit by the site manager and sales manager in charge of nearby Carn y Cefn development on Waun-Y-Pound Road.

The children were given an overview of the construction process and also reminded about the health and safety risks of building sites.

The Year Three children have now been challenged to draw a picture of how they think a house will look in 100 years which will be buried in a time capsule at the development, while the Year Fours will create posters explaining the dangers of playing on construction sites, with the best being displayed around the area.

Jack Davies, Site Manager at East Wales, said: “It was great to visit Glyncoed Primary School and to give the children an insight into the work we are doing less than a mile away.

“They were all very engaged in the lessons and had some excellent questions.

“We look forward to seeing their entries for the time capsule and safety poster competitions.

“We’re committed to engaging with the communities in which we build and this is another example of that.”

Nick Penn, Headteacher at the school, said: “It was fantastic to welcome the Persimmon representatives to school to give our pupils an overview of the work happening just down the road from us.

“All the children enjoyed the sessions and I know they are excited about the competitions and the prospect of either having their design buried in a time capsule or their poster being displayed at the site.

“We’re keen to give our pupils a varied learning experience and this visit was a great way to do that.”

Here at persimmon we are building 250 new properties at Carn y Cefn on the former Ebbw Vale Comprehensive School and College site.

Work on the £29m project began last summer. A mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes are being built, with prices starting at £189,995.

A total of 55 of the properties will be available for social rent with housing association United Welsh for prospective tenants on the Blaenau Gwent Council Common Housing Register.

The development will create more than 200 jobs over the five-year construction period, as well as boosting the local economy by £7m per annum.

We've agreed to contribute £783,354 towards education provision, which will be split between Glyncoed and Willowtown Primary Schools.

The first people are expected to move in at Carn y Cefn in the summer.

The Government-backed Help to Buy – Wales scheme is available, an initiative where buyers only need a five per cent deposit.