Plans for Machynlleth’s new all-through school could be revamped to include a new leisure centre, Powys County Council has said.

The plans for a new Ysgol Bro Hyddgen were delayed after the collapse of contractor Dawnus. And now the council has revealed it is in talks with Freedom Leisure, which operates the county’s leisure facilities, about providing a new facility as part of the school plans.

Cabinet member for education Phyl Davies said the delay “presented us with an opportunity to revisit the plans”.

“If we are able to include leisure facilities, the new build would truly be a community focused facility that would benefit learners and residents in Machynlleth and the surrounding area,” said Cllr Davies.

The council has said that discussions are at an early stage, but the idea is being considered.

There would need to be detailed design, investigation and feasibility work before any proposals were put forward, the council added.

Machynlleth councillor Michael Williams said the current building was built for locals to use, but also to boost tourism, and “it is important that is not lost”.

See this week’s Machynlleth & Llanidloes paper for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition tomorrow