Ashton has big plans for growth

Ballito is growing at a rapid pace and Ashton International College has embraced the growth at the school and unveiled the plans for their expansion.

CEO André Buys says the new developments will focus on the school’s sporting side with two rugby fields, a cricket pitch and a water-based AstroTurf.

“It is very important for us to be able to compete right up there with the rest of the schools on all levels and right now sports fields are a necessity,” said Buys.

He said developers will immediately start leveling the area for the sports fields and parking area.

Parents will be able to drop their children off in the parking area and the pupils will have direct access to the school grounds through the culvert underneath the M4.

Buys said this will not only relieve the traffic congestion at the school, but also at the traffic light intersection.

“The sport fields will be the first of four phases in our expansion. We are working to get the fields done for this year, but this is all depending on the rain. We will only start planting the grass once we get some good rains,” said Buys.

The plans include the construction of a dam that will also collect storm water running down from the business park.

As they dig out the dam, they will use the sand to level out the fields.

“We are aware of the water problems and so we will have a dam that will only be used for Ashton’s purposes like watering our fields and running the AstroTurf,” said Buys.

The other phases in the development include a chapel and later a tertiary institution.

“We want our children to stay in Ballito for their studies and also get married right here!”

Executive head Joe Erasmus said they will also expand on the current property with a second hall and more classrooms so that the primary and secondary pupils are more separated from each other.

“These plans have been coming a long time and we are really grateful for our CEO André Buys for pushing for this expansion. The school is doing really well, we are growing a lot and this will only benefit everyone,” said Erasmus.