LESSON FOR OUR COUNCIL

2 November 2005

Having a keen interest in anything to do with Swansea, I have listened intently to the discussions from both sides regarding the closure of Dylan Thomas Community School. My understanding of the situation is that Swansea Council, under the pretext of reorganisation, intends to transfer children from Dylan Thomas school to Bishop Gore, the cost of which is expected to be in the region of £20 million.

Opposition to this proposal has been valiantly mounted by parents, governors, teachers and children, only to be told by Swansea Council the closure was in the best interests of pupils and makes the best sense educationally.

Those opposing this reorganisation should be worried because Swansea Council is incapable of carrying through such a massive project and I would use the newly amalgamated Dunvant Primary School as an example.

Firstly, here we are only talking about a budget of £1 million which was to be used to upgrade, remodel and convert existing buildings.

The first £700,000 of this was to be spent by the end of the 2005/06 financial year; to date, no building works have started on site.

The only interest Swansea Council has in Dunvant Primary School is the premium land within its boundaries which members seem to believe is theirs by right to sell off. I think not!Swansea Council is clearly putting profit before pupils' educational needs.Surely a vote of no confidence in this present administration is long overdue.

Lis Davies, Cyncoed Close, Dunvant, Swansea