PLANS to expand a Welsh-medium primary school in Wrexham look set to go ahead.

It follows no objections being raised to creating space for an extra 105 pupils at Ysgol Bro Alun in Gwersyllt.

It will bring the maximum capacity up to 315, along with 45 nursery places as Wrexham Council looks to meet the demand for Welsh language education in the county borough.

Cllr Phil Wynn, the authority’s lead member for education, said the lack of issues raised was indicative of the widespread support for the proposals.

The independent councillor said: “I think it’s a reflection how well received the Welsh medium school has been by the community of Gwersyllt.

“If the report’s approved, then we will proceed with the planning application and construction work.

“It’s good news as I see it for the promotion of Welsh medium education provision.”

If the go ahead is given by the council’s executive board next week, both the nursery and reception places will be increased from September this year.

The expansion will be paid for using £1.3m worth of Welsh Government capital funding.

However, despite the authority highlighting the demand for places, plans to create a new Welsh medium primary school elsewhere in the area are expected to be delayed because of a lack of applications.

A new school is still being set up in Borras, which is due to open in September 2021.

But Cllr Wynn will ask his colleagues to reverse their decision to establish a temporary “seed” school at the former Hafod y Wern infant site this year after only two parents chose it as their first preference.

He said: “We did advertise it through our schools admissions process and booklet asking for parents to select that school to send their children to within the intention that come 2021, those children would then be moved across to the new school in Borras.

“We have only had indications of two first preferences for the nursery intake.

“On the basis of that, we thought it would be better not to proceed with the feeder school to await the opening of the new school in Borras.

“My own personal opinion is that because the Bro Alun option has come on stream it has allowed capacity to be created at Plas Coch, and the parents from the Acton community are sending their children there.”

The funding to improve the Hafod y Wern site would be directed elsewhere within the council’s education budget.

The new school would also open directly in Borras with an annual intake of 30 children at nursery level and 30 in reception.

Both sets of proposals will be discussed by executive board members at a meeting on Tuesday, 9 April.