FROSTY RECEPTION FOR SCHOOLS CHIEFS IN ROW OVER SHAKE-UP

25 June 2005

Parents of children at Grange School in West Cross, Swansea, are giving education chiefs the cold shoulder. Parents gave a frosty reception to council education committee chairman Mike Day at a meeting to discuss the siting of the new Llwynderw Welsh-medium school alongside.

They attacked the move as "woefully inadequate, a waste of public money and ill-considered".

Meanwhile, locals say increased traffic in the area would put children's safety at risk.And they claim they have yet to be consulted about the 480-pupil school move, which comes as part of a shake-up of schools in the city.

Councillor Mark Child, who is opposing the move, said: "Grange School has kindly offered to open its doors to residents so that they can be fully informed of the potential problems confronting them."

A meeting for residents with councillors from the area has been called at the school on Monday, starting at 7pm.

Councillor Day said today he believed meetings held to date had been an excellent opportunity to talk to parents, pupils and teachers.

He added: "I have been delighted with the way they have put forward their views and I look forward to attending more meetings in the coming weeks.

"No decisions have been taken on the future of schools," he added.

"That is why this consultation process is so important.

"The cabinet is prepared to listen and to take into account any ideas put forward."