PROTESTERS SLAM THREE-SCHOOL PLAN

4 November 2005

Hundreds of people have signed a petition against a controversial plan to house three city primary schools in one West Cross street.

Under Swansea's big schools shake-up, Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwynderw will be moved to a new site in West Cross Avenue in 2008. But residents branded the plan an accident waiting to happen and launched a petition against the proposal.

Hundreds of signatures have now been handed in as Swansea Council's two-month consultation period comes to an end.

West Cross councilors Mark Child and Des Thomas said children would be at risk on the roads because of the massive intake.

According to their estimates, more than 1,000 pupils will be using the street from three schools, creating a huge volume of traffic.

The Welsh school is currently housed temporarily at Bishop Gore comprehensive in Sketty but badly needs a new base.

If the proposals go ahead, the 70-pupil school will be housed next to Grange primary and nearby St David's Roman Catholic School.

Councillor Child said: "There will be more than 1,000 children trying to get in and out of school and a lot more traffic in an already dangerous road.

"I think there is a huge majority of people in West Cross who are against this idea. West Cross Avenue is just not large enough for it."

Objections have to be made in writing to Swansea Council before the consultation period ends tomorrow.

If just one is received it will mean the decision is referred to the Assembly and the final decision is then unlikely to be made before spring.

Councillor Mike Day, Swansea's cabinet member for education, said: "The issue of traffic is one which we take very seriously and before the scheme goes ahead there will be a proper traffic management plan set out by the council.

"It would be senseless putting something there that's going to put children's lives at risk and if people think we are going to do that they are very much mistaken."