NEW SCHOOL PLAN MOVES FORWARD DESPITE PROTESTS

16 February 2006

Controversial plans to build a new Welsh medium school in West Cross are finally being submitted to Swansea Council next week. Proposals to create a permanent site for Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwynderw have been plagued by criticism since first being put forward.

The new school would take the place of the West Cross Children's Home in West Cross Avenue, which in turn is moving to a new £1 million state-of-the-art home in Milford Way, Blaenymaes.

But residents in West Cross have criticised the plan, amid fears it will lead to heavier traffic at the site.

The Welsh school has been temporarily housed in Bishop Gore comprehensive in Sketty for the last three years, while looking for a new base.If the latest application is approved by councillors, pupils will be able to move into the new school by 2008 - three years later than first planned.

Richard Parry, the council's education director, insisted the fears of people living nearby had been heeded.

"We listened very carefully to concerns raised about the current problems for the schools in the area," he added.

"A lot of effort has gone into ensuring the new school will fit well into its community and the proposed traffic management system is designed to make life easier on the school run, whichever school the pupils go to.

"The traffic management scheme involves calming measures and other proposals that will increase options for pupils and parents to get to school.

"The proposal to close the temporary school on the Bishop Gore site and replace it with a permanent new-build primary school in West Cross was subject to an extensive consultation process last year.

Leaflets are being sent to parents, pupils and residents in the next few days to ask them their views on the application.

A final decision by the Assembly on whether to approve the proposal has not yet been reached.

But Mr Parry said that putting in the planning application now would help speed up the process if the Assembly agrees to the overall project.

"Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwynderw has waited a very long time for this permanent replacement school," he added.