Pontardawe ‘super school’ plans should be scrapped, says MS
1st February 2023
Community
Education
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By Elizabeth Birt
Senior reporter
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PLANS for a super school which would see three Swansea Valley primary schools closed has been opposed by a local MS.
Residents have already voiced their opposition to the plans for the super school in Pontardawe and their concerns have been echoed by South Wales West MS Sioned Williams.
Neath Port Talbot Council plans to close Alltwen, Llangiwg and Godre’r-graig primary schools and replace them with an English-medium super-school for ages three to 11.
413 people signed an online petition against the proposals – which were passed by the Labour-led council – and of the 234 responses to the original consultation, only 21 were in favour of the plans.
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A judicial review challenged the decision to go ahead with the proposals and found that the previous consultation was unlawful.
In 2022, the Rainbow Coalition at the council committed the halt the proposals.
A public meeting was held last night, where campaigners have echoed their arguments about the plans and how they are unsuitable and damaging to education and community life, including a negative effect on the Welsh language in the Swansea Valley.
Parents raised concerns about the size of the school, and how building on playing fields and contributing to already high levels of traffic congestion and air pollution would be in line with the aims of the Future Generations Act.
Ms Williams, who represents Plaid Cymru, spoke at the meeting and pointed to how the plans would impact on the accessibility of nursery provision and the loss of the ability to walk or cycle to school and to before and after school activities, falling below the aims of active travel.
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Ms Williams said after the meeting: “It was clear from the huge number of concerns raised in the meeting that there is overwhelming local opposition to these plans.
“The council should reject these plans outright and explore different options for each school for new or upgraded school buildings, working with, rather than against parents, governors and local residents.
“The new Rainbow Coalition in the council inherited this situation from the previous Labour administration, and deserve credit for properly engaging with the public, unlike the previous Labour administration.
“But the answers given by officers in the meeting were vague – for example on the additional costs which the plans would create, such as extra school transport and highways work to accommodate the new school. This is an ill-thought out and inappropriate plan.
“I would urge all local residents to make their voices heard by filling in the new consultation to oppose the plans to shut Swansea Valley schools.”
An online meeting will be held on February 1 for those who couldn’t attend the public meeting in person. To attend, please email ssip@npt.gov.uk for the meeting link.
The public consultation on the proposals will close on Tuesday, February 7.
The consultation documents can be viewed at https://www.npt.gov.uk/media/18283/consultation_document.pdf?v=20221205082948
Responses to the consultation can be submitted by visiting the site portal at https://wh.snapsurveys.com/s.asp?k=166990867157, by emailing SSIP@npt.gov.uk, or by writing to Andrew Thomas, Director of Education Leisure and Lifelong Learning, (marked for the attention of the SSIP Team), Civic Centre, Port Talbot SA13 1PJ.
