WARNING OF SCHOOL CAR CHAOS

8 June 2005

Swansea Council's big schools shake-up will bring traffic chaos to West Cross, residents have warned. Under the proposals being discussed tomorrow , Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwynderw will be moved to a new site in busy West Cross Avenue in 2008.

The school is currently housed temporarily at Bishop Gore comprehensive in Sketty but badly needs a new base, council leaders have said.

It is hoped the West Cross House site next to Grange primary will give the 70-pupil school a new home and improve its facilities.T

he seven-year-old West Cross Children's Home, which currently uses the site, will be also be relocated by January 2008 under the plans.An expansion of the Welsh medium school's current intake is also planned over the next decade to make YGG Llwynderw one of Swansea's biggest Welsh primaries.

However, residents in West Cross have protested, saying the area is already plagued with congestion from the nearby Grange and St David's primary schools.

They fear a new school will only serve to clog up roads in West Cross Avenue, making traffic problems during the busy school run worse. As part of the plans, to be put before cabinet on Thursday, Swansea Council has proposed that access to the site is revamped with a widening of West Cross Avenue.

Residents fear this will mean the loss of a hedgerow and a row of trees, turning the area into an eyesore.

Carol Crafer, of West Cross Avenue, said: "I'm not against the school in principle because there are pros and cons about that.

"It is just the way the council are going about it. They couldn't choose a worse location traffic-wise and by taking up these beautiful trees they are causing an environmental disaster.

"If this goes ahead, it will rip out the heart of West Cross and nothing will be left of the character of the area."

Mumbles Community Council will meet to discuss the proposals once a final decision has been made by education bosses.

Secretary John Pickard said today: "Our response has not been decided yet but we are aware that there has been a lot of concern from local residents about the traffic congestion it might cause."