So, the County Council have issued a press release which was reported on in the Brecon and Radnor this week. They acknowledge the need for a new 240 pupil school in Hay, and are promising to provide one in two years, - so they are going to the same developer who was approached before so that he can give them a "final 'best offer'".
Hang on - haven't we been here before?
And shouldn't these things go out to tender?
Meanwhile, Malcolm Smith, the chairman of Plan B for Hay, has had a letter printed in the Hereford Times, pointing out that it would make far more sense to combine a new school building with a new community centre, on the same site that the school is currently occupying. They've had plans drawn up, and looked at the economics of it, and have demonstrated that it is feasible. They have also, of course, compiled a survey to show what the people of Hay actually want - which is a school funded by the government (rather than a developer), on the present site, without any new "retail development".
It seems that everything Plan B has done so far has been ignored by the new Cabinet, although they have been in contact with the County Council for the past 17 months, and have provided them with a lot of information. The County Council also says that they have consulted with the Town Council - but it hasn't been mentioned while I've been sitting at the monthly meetings, and it doesn't seem to be in their minutes either.
There also seems to be some sort of proposal to move the Library to the school site, which seems puzzling. What would happen to the present Library building in that case? And would the Council's "Library +" facilities still be provided through the library now that we have no other point of contact with the County Council in Hay?
So it seems we're no further on than before - we have a promise of a school, but no clear way of paying for it, or any other details yet.
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