Plans to demolish Barry Comprehensive School for a new £32 million replacement took a big step forward as the Vale Planning Committee passed the application at a meeting this evening.

The committee's approval was unanimous.

The application proposes a new high school on the site of the existing Barry Comprehensive School

The committee was told that no objections to the plan had been received from the school neighbourhood. ''I can't wait for it to get started'' said Cllr. Margaret Wilkinson.

The application for the school states that ''the existing school is beyond economical repair and consequently, the development involves demolishing it and erecting a new building.''

Existing capacity of the school is for 1,423 pupils and the new capacity will be 1,100. Currently 905 pupils attend the school.

The school will cater for male and female students between the ages of 11 and 18. Of its 1,100 places, 200 will be sixth form.

The new school will have an all-weather pitch, a games court/MUGA (multi use games area) and a grassed pitch.

It will also have a new car park/ coach drop off/ pick up point.

Gareth Hooper of Cardiff-based DPP Planning and agent for the application said: ''The existing school was constructed in 1966 and will be demolished but the current school can continue to operate until the new one is built.''