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There is now “space” to consider how a controversial school expansion can go ahead without having a negative impact on the community, a Senedd Member has said.

On Tuesday, June 15, Caerphilly County Borough Council said plans to expand Trinity Fields School would be put on hold “for the foreseeable future”.

As part of the plans, a council-owned playing field at Ystrad Mynach Park would have been lost – with a replacement playing field created at Sue Noake Leisure Centre to compensate for the loss of the pitch.

But residents, already angry at the potential loss of the pitch, were unhappy because of a long-standing problem with leaking sewage from a manhole at the site of the planned pitch at Sue Noake – an issue being investigated by Welsh Water.

Penallta RFC, which plays on the Ystrad Mynach Park pitch, also spoke out against the proposals.

Hefin David, the Labour Senedd Member for Caerphilly, wrote to the council’s cabinet on April 6, asking them to pause the plans.

But the plans were approved by cabinet on April 7, after the council’s education scrutiny committee had backed them the previous month.

The expansion would boost the number of places at the Special Educational Needs school by 80.

Dr David said he was glad the council had “listened to my and others’ representations to pause this process”, and described it as “the most responsible decision in the circumstances”.

He added: “There is now space to consider how the extension of the school may still happen and indeed how additional learning needs provision may be enhanced across the borough, without a negative impact on the community in Ystrad Mynach and without the loss of the playing field.

“The additional spaces for our most vulnerable children can be provided faster if all options are explored in the months ahead.”

But why has the council decided to pause the plans now?

In a statement, council leader Philippa Marsden said it is “important that we provide Welsh Water with the appropriate time and space to investigate the problems [at Sue Noake Leisure Centre] and undertake any further works that are required.”

She added: “Our plans to progress the development, including the submission of a planning application, will be put on hold for the foreseeable future until we know the full picture and have assurances about the viability of the site for further development.

“We have been crystal clear in our position to date that no development will take place at the Sue Noake site until we are satisfied that the problems have been addressed and the site is safe for use by the community.”

Cllr Ross Whiting, the council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said the council “remains committed” to expanding Trinity Fields, but said the plans to create a new pitch at Sue Noake are “integral” to the project.

He added: “We will progress these exciting plans at the appropriate time in the future, once we are confident that the flooding issues have been addressed.”

During a recent inspection of the drainage system around the Sue Noake site, Welsh Water removed 11 black bags of “rags” and a large wooden board from a flooding chamber.

Welsh Water described it as a “significant find” and said water flow within the chamber had improved after the obstruction was removed.

The body has said it will inspect the chamber again during the next spell of wet weather.

Ystrad Mynach resident Phil Morris, who has been leading the campaign against the loss of the fields said: “As long as there’s potential to flood the pitch, it can’t go ahead.”

When asked about community response, he said: “It’s largely seen as a positive thing, but people don’t expect the council to break their stride for too long.

“It’s an opportunity to look at the alternatives”.

He also said plans should have been halted earlier.