THERE is an air of expectancy in Hay-on-Wye as residents await the long overdue announcement by Powys County Council of its revised plans for a new primary school, which itself is long overdue.

It is well over a year since Powys announced it was considering a retail development on the present school site, for which the council would receive £5 million to build a new school on an out of town sports field.

This initial proposal has been resisted by Plan B for Hay which, representing the majority of the town’s residents, has campaigned since November 2011 for the new school to be developed on the present site as part of a comprehensive community facility.

A well designed scheme would incorporate both the school and the services which should be provided by the present and uneconomic community centre.

By combining these facilities Powys would save millions of pounds in building costs as well as providing financially and environmentally sustainable community facilities.

It has been demonstrated by Plan B for Hay that the multi-functional route is feasible and could to a large extent be funded by disposal of surplus property and assets owned by Powys county council.

There are fears however that the economic advantages of a multifunctional development may not be pursued for short term cost reasons.

MALCOLM SMITH, Chairman, Plan B for Hay, Hay-on-Wye.