Councillors will be joining students and staff from Wellsway School, Keynsham, to mark the start of a new £3.1 million sports centre project.
A turf cutting ceremony will take place on Tuesday January 17 to mark the beginning of construction on the school site.
The centre, commissioned by Bath & North East Somerset Council and Wellsway School, will provide a new six-court sports hall, activity suites and an additional classroom for the school, and should be completed by October 2012. The facilities will also be available for the community to use out of school hours.
Councillor Nathan Hartley (Lib-Dem, Peasedown), Deputy Leader of Council and Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Youth, said: “This enhancement project is another example of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s commitment to improving school buildings. This new sports centre will make a big difference to the school and its students as well as the wider Keynsham community.”
Andrea Arlidge, head teacher at Wellsway School, said: “This new facility will be a fantastic addition to the school and will also benefit the local community. It’s a very exciting time for us and we look forward to working with Cowlin and the Council in realising our long held ambition of a state-of-the art sports centre for our school and the local community.“
Cowlin Construction, a Balfour Beatty company, has been chosen to deliver the project. The company will be working closely with staff and students during the project, including introducing construction into the school curriculum.
David Stockham, Cowlin Divisional Managing Director, said: “This traditional ceremony marks the end of a long road for the school and Council and the beginning of an exciting project. Cowlin is delighted to start work and we are looking forward to working together to bring the school’s plans to fruition.”
