A ground breaking ceremony in Wales has marked the start of work on a landmark project for the Isle of Anglesey County Council.

Anglesey's first 'green' school will be built in Llangefni and the new Ysgol-y-Graig, on Lôn Talwrn, with the aim of setting a new standard of environmental design and sustainability.

Plans for the new £3.7 million eco-friendly building, which includes a number of energy saving features, have been created by the Property Section's Design Team.

The school will be the first to be built by the Authority using a Sustainable Timber Structure, making it extremely energy efficient. Other unique features will include solar photovoltaic roof tiles, a wind turbine and a 'green roof', which will provide a natural habitat for plants and insects.


All internal lighting will also be fitted with energy efficiency lamps, and the school will generate its own electricity through the photovoltaic roof tiles, with any surplus electricity being sold back to the national grid.

Council Leader, Councillor Gareth Winston Roberts OBE, said: "In an age where tackling climate change is high on everyone's agenda, this new school will be state of the art in terms of sustainability and environmental design.

"This is a real landmark project for the County Council and Anglesey, and the first new school to be built on the Island since 2002. This project also demonstrates our strong commitment to education provision on the Island."

Education portfolio holder, Cllr John Meirion Davies, also welcomed the new project. He explained: "The new school is being built on a green-field site on the outskirts of Llangefni, and will be nearer to the homes of many of the pupils.

"The project also includes a new footpath link from the nearby housing estate, providing the children with a safe walking or cycling route to school. The relocation will also greatly reduce the number of cars delivering and collecting the children, improving road safety and a significant drop in CO2 exhaust emissions."

The project, which is expected to be completed by October 2008, is being carried out by Wynne Construction.

Infrastructure work, including the creation of new roads and roundabout on Lôn Talwrn, has already been completed.

(NS/JM)