PROTESTING PARENTS QUERY REVAMP COSTS

23 August 2005

Parents battling to save a Swansea school today questioned where the council will find the money to refurbish one of the city's largest comprehensives. Dylan Thomas Community School has been earmarked for closure, under controversial plans put forward by the council.

Pupils would be sent to Bishop Gore instead with the authority promising to pour £20 million into revamping the De La Beche Road site.

But campaigners opposed to the scheme are demanding to know how the council intends to pay for the work.

Sheila Lewis, who has helped spearhead the campaign, said today: "Where are they going to find £20 million for the school?"

Swansea's politicians have also criticised the consultation process involved in the school reorganisation.

Both Plaid Cymru and Labour claim the Swansea administration - made up of a Lib Dem, Conservative and Independent coalition - has failed to listen to the people.

Plaid's education spokesman Rhodri Thomas, along with Cockett councillors Vanessa Webb and Adrian Rees, have all criticised the plans for the future of Dylan Thomas school.

Councillor Thomas said today: "We are extremely disappointed in this total failure to respond to the people's views.

"They (the coalition) appear to have been dazzled by fashionable terms - the cabinet document is littered with phrases such as "a concept architect" and "a school for the 21st Century"' rather than looking at the reality of an excellent and happy school that is working well.

"As a result this is a half-cooked scheme with noticeable holes in it."

Swansea Labour AM Andrew Davies echoed their concerns and asked why the council's estimate for refurbishing Bishop Gore has risen three-fold from £7 million to £20 million.

"Any competent administration would have established a realistic figure for refurbishing Bishop Gore before making any decision on school closures," he added.

"It shows the Lib Dems thumbing their noses yet again at the results of a public consultation.

"This is a slap in the face for the overwhelming majority who said they did not want Dylan Thomas school to close."