Row over city's new Welsh primary

16 February 2006 - BBC Wales Website

Welsh-medium primary school pupils in the west of Swansea who are currently taught in a old canteen block may have new classrooms within two years.

Plans for a permanent home are to be submitted to the council next week.

When Ysgol Gynradd Llwynderw opened in an old school canteen in Sketty the accommodation was to be temporary.

The new school would be three miles away in West Cross, but some residents there oppose the move as there are already two other schools at that site.

They say there are major traffic problems caused by Grange Primary and St David's Catholic Primary, both on West Cross Avenue.

The new Welsh school would be on an adjoining site.

West Cross councillor Desmond Thomas said: "There is an amazing amount of opposition.

"I saw the plans on Tuesday and there is no doubt they are very impressive but people feel it's on the wrong site.

"There would be three primary schools on the same street. A lot of the pupils at the Welsh school would have to be bussed in or driven by their parents as they are scattered about.

"It will add to the serious traffic problems that already exist."

Ysgol Gynradd Llwynderw was opened in the old canteen block at Bishop Gore Comprehensive School in response to demand for a Welsh-medium primary for the west of the city.

Swansea Council's director of education Richard Parry said there was extensive consultation last summer and a traffic management plan would address residents' concerns.

"YGG Llwynderw has waited a very long time for this permanent replacement school.

"A lot of effort has gone into ensuring that 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 Welsh Assembly Government has the final say on the overall concept of closing the current Ysgol Gynradd Llwynderw site and moving to a new build.

"If (the assembly government) does approve and planning councillors agree the application they see, then it means that we can expect children will move into the new school by September 2008," said Mr Parry.

In 2004 the education authority dropped plans to shut Mayals Primary School and relocate the Welsh-medium school there in the face of protests from parents.