ANGRY MEETING REJECTS PLAN FOR NEW SCHOOL

Jason Evans - 29 June 2005

Controversial plans to build a new school in West Cross have been given an emphatic thumbs down by local residents. They say that the proposals to build a Welsh-medium school next to the existing Grange primary are unacceptable and have vowed to fight them.

There was standing room only in the Grange school hall as almost 150 residents packed a public meeting to air their concerns.

And the message from the meeting was unanimous: this is the wrong site for the new school.

Olive Rees, from nearby Heathwood Road, said it was not an English language versus Welsh language issue.

"My first language is Welsh and I am a passionate supporter of Welsh-medium education," she said.

"But this is a dreadful plan, it's crazy."Speaker after speaker criticised the plans, which they claimed would lead to a dangerous increase in traffic around the school, would affect drainage in the area and would mean the destruction of an important green site with around 50 mature trees.

Members of the emergency services in the audience said they were also concerned about access for ambulances and fire engines if the already narrow and congested roads had to deal with more school traffic.

The council wants to build the new Welsh school for up to 480 pupils as part of a major shake-up of education.

The reorganisation includes the closure of Dylan Thomas school in Cockett and the transfer of its pupils to Bishop Gore in Sketty, plans which also have proved very unpopular.

Plans for the Grange site have already received a frosty reception from parents and governors of the school - and now residents are preparing to join the fight.

Local councillor Des Thomas, who chaired the meeting with fellow ward member Mark Child and Gower AM Edwina Hart, said it was time for action.

"If you make your voices heard loud and clear, you can force the council to scrap this plan," he told the meeting.

One parent added: "The council seems to think it can foist this on us.

"It is wrong."