AFTER years of uncertainty and temporary accommodation, pre-school children in Rhayader will finally have a place to call their own from this summer.

The Rhayader Under 5s pre-school group have not had a permanent base to call home following the initial sale and subsequent fire at Dolgerddon Hall several years ago. The hall had over the years provided dorms for youths, families and groups visiting the Elan Valley.

A fire ripped through the hall on the afternoon of July 2, 2018, destroying the roof of the seven-bedroom property – and has been left derelict to this day; something that is another bone of contention for local residents.

Over the last few years since the sale of Dolgerddon, Rhayader Under 5s have been temporarily housed in Rhayader Primary School and, since September 2019, had been moved into the cricket pavilion for what was supposed to be a 6-month emergency period until a new building was built on the school site for them.

However, due to a significant rise in pupil numbers at Rhayader Primary School, the planned building work never materialised and instead resulted in Cylch Rhaeadr having a new building built for them in the summer of 2021. The under 5s, meanwhile, were left in the cricket pavilion.

The group’s committee were told by Powys County Council that, due to funding they would need to remain in their temporary building permanently, despite the fact that the space is not adequate or suitable for a pre-school setting.

The committee and former Rhayader county councillor, Kelvyn Curry, fought the decision tooth and anil and their determination and tenacity has finally paid off, resulting in a 24-place setting finally being given the green light.

R G Stones started work on the new building on Thursday, May 19, and the building work is set to be completed in July, ready for the Rhayader Under 5s to start the new academic year in September.