Latest news with #YsgolHeolGoffa
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Politics
- Wales Online
Delays over decision on building new school labelled 'a kick in the teeth'
Delays over decision on building new school labelled 'a kick in the teeth' The cost of replacing Ysgol Heol Goffa will go into the millions but there is anger over delays in making a decision on the huge project Special school Ysgol Heol Goffa, Llanelli, and cabinet member for education and Welsh language (inset) Cllr Glynog Davies Council chiefs in Carmarthenshire want a clearer understanding of costs before deciding to build a much-needed replacement special school in Llanelli. Cabinet proposed two options to replace Ysgol Heol Goffa at a meeting on June 16: a 150-place school, along with a primary and secondary specialist centre for pupils with autistic spectrum conditions; or a new 250-place school which would include provision for pupils with autistic spectrum conditions. Estimates for the 150-place option currently range from £42.2 million to £58.1 million; estimates for the 250-place option range from £36.2 million to £51.2 million. The Welsh Government would fund the majority of the costs. Stay informed on Carms news by signing up to our newsletter here Campaigners who staged protests when the council shelved original plans for a new Ysgol Heol Goffa at the former Draka copperworks site on cost grounds want a decision as quickly as possible. Plaid cabinet member for education and Welsh language, Cllr Glynog Davies, said more work on design feasibility and costs were needed to enable the council to come to the correct decision - and he said he wanted that information "as soon as possible". Speaking after the cabinet meeting, Labour opposition leader, Cllr Deryk Cundy, accused the Plaid-Independent administration of further delays and said its decision was "a kick in the teeth for the parents". Article continues below Cllr Davies said both of the two options being explored would be an improvement on the originally planned replacement Heol Goffa. Cabinet also decided to discount four of the six options that had been put to it by an independent expert who had reviewed the provision of specialist education in the area. "We were quite fortunate that we did have a review," said Cllr Davies. Cllr Alun Lenny, cabinet member for resources, said the costs of both options being explored were "truly eye-watering" but that he and his colleagues were determined to get the best outcome for young people with additional learning needs. He said Ysgol Heol Goffa was "treasured" by staff, pupils and the wider community, but added: "We must exercise due diligence in these days of huge financial pressure." The cabinet report said the current £3.45 million per year operating budget for Ysgol Heol Goffa, which has 120 places, would increase with a bigger replacement. Head teacher Ceri Hopkins had written to the council to say the 250-place replacement option was the school's preferred one because it would, among other things, reduce disruption for pupils and help preserve a family ethos. This was also the preferred option of campaign group Ysgol Heol Goffa Action Committee. It called for work to progress urgently as the current school had a long pupil waiting list. "Time is of the essence here; parents do not want to be waiting another five years plus, for the new school," said its letter to the council. "We agree that the school can be delivered in a more cost-effective manner, while also increasing pupil capacity to address the ever-growing need." Llanelli MP Nia Griffith and MS Lee Waters also wrote to the council asking it to press ahead with the 250-place option, adding that the old copperworks site retained distinct advantages as the location. They said costs could be cut by obtaining a quote from more than one contractor, as had happened with the proposed new school that was abandoned, by leaving out a hydrotherapy pool as one was being built at the nearby Pentre Awel health and research development, and by focusing on pupil's practical needs rather than "architectural flourish". Cllr Cundy said the administration "just can't seem to make a decision" about pressing ahead with a new school. He said: "It's a kick in the teeth for the parents. All the time they are delaying the prices for building a new school are going up and up." Article continues below Llanelli town councillor Shaun Greaney, who represents the ward Ysgol Heol Goffa is in, said he was worried what would happen if things weren't set in stone by the time of next May's Senedd elections. "If there's a change of power and nothing has been finalised for a new school it could spell disaster if other parties take a different position on funding," he said. During the meeting Cllr Lenny said consideration had to be given to parents elsewhere who wanted replacement schools in their area, given that there was a finite pot of funding. He said a new Ysgol Dewi Sant should have opened in Llanelli years ago "had it not been for intervention from local Labour politicians".
ITV News
4 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Carmarthenshire Council commits to replacing Llanelli's Ysgol Heol Goffa as two options mooted
Carmarthenshire Council has committed to replacing Llanelli's only special school, after proposals which were years in the making were last year scrapped due to rising costs. Ysgol Heol Goffa was established in the early 1970s and accommodates 75 pupils, but it cannot meet the current demand for education provision for children with additional learning needs. Plans to build a new school to replace Ysgol Heol Goffa were first announced eight years ago in 2017, after an inspection found that the learning environment was "adequate" and "areas of the school building, limit significantly the range of learning opportunities that can take place on site". But last year the local authority decided not to press ahead with the plans, citing increasing project costs. That decision sparked anger among campaigners, and the council commissioned an independent review of ALN provision in the Llanelli area. The review's findings were published in February this year, with six potential options presented. At a meeting on Monday, 16 June, the Plaid Cymru-run council's cabinet decided it will consider two of those options, which both include a new school and increased ALN provision. The two options being considered are: Building a new 150-pupil special school, and develop proposals to build one primary and one secondary specialist centre for pupils with autistic spectrum conditions attached to mainstream schools. Building a new 250-pupil special school to include provision for pupils with autistic spectrum conditions. Councillors have asked council officers for further details on feasibility and costs before making a final decision "as soon as possible". Darren Price, leader of Carmarthenshire Council, told ITV Cymru Wales: "Clearly, we are facing increased demand for ALN provision across the county. "It's no different to other parts of Wales, but what we recognise is we need to invest in new, modern facilities, to deliver that ALN provision in the town." Asked if there will be a new building for Heol Goffa, Cllr Price said: "Absolutely. "The previous proposal that we had in Llanelli was for a 120-pupil school for Heol Goffa. The work that (consultant) David Davies has carried out on our behalf has shown that that school would have been too small on day one, so there's a need to go to at least 150 pupils for any new provision. "We absolutely understand the frustration that's been felt by school staff, pupils and parents and the wider community and we want to get this decision done as soon as possible so we can get on and invest in those key provisions for Llanelli. "Heol Goffa and ALN provision in Llanelli is a key priority for us... Heol Goffa is certainly at the top of the agenda and it's one of the schools we want to be investing in as soon as possible." Asked if families would have to wait another eight years for a new, bigger school building, he said: "Absolutely not. That certainly isn't the intention. We want to proceed as soon as possible." As for confidence in funding being there to invest in new school infrastructure, the council leader said: "Certainly, we've got concerns in terms of the funding envelope we have as a council in terms of investing, in terms of our school estate. "That's no different to any other council. I think there are frustrations across the country in terms of how much money we've got to invest in capital schemes, and that of course is why we've had to review the situation with Heol Goffa. "We've got a fixed level of funding that we can invest in terms of schools and there's a duty on us to look at that funding in the most diligent way possible, but one thing we are absolutely clear on is that the provision of ALN facilities in Llanelli is a top priority for the council and we hope to see progress on that as soon as possible." In response, the leader of the Labour group at Carmarthenshire Council, Deryk Cundy, said he was furious that no hard and fast timeline for the new school had been agreed. "They have kicked this into the long grass yet again," Cllr Cundy said. "They just can't seem to make a decision. "It's a kick in the teeth for the parents. All the time they are delaying, the prices for building a new school are going up and up." School campaigner and Lliedi ward town councillor Shaun Greaney said: "I'm frightened the delays could actually jeopardise the whole project. "Labour has committed to funding 75 per cent of the total cost from Welsh Government, but we don't know what will happen at the Senedd elections next year.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Llanelli special school to be built after Ysgol Heol Goffa U-turn
Proposals to build a new special needs school have been given the go ahead after a "year of torment".It comes after Carmarthenshire council said last year it was not possible to continue with the original plan in Llanelli due to construction 300 campaigners protested in September 2024 claiming the council broke a promise to fund a new building for Ysgol Heol Jenkins, chairman of governors at the school, welcomed the news, adding: "We'll be keeping the pressure on the local authority to make sure that we do get what was promised eight years ago." The unanimous vote comes after multiple U-turns over plans for the school.A replacement school was first proposed in 2017 which was due to be relocated and expanded to meet May 2024, the council said it would not go ahead with plans due to financial pressures which led to protests by council commissioned an independent review of additional learning needs (ALN) provision in the area which was published in February outlining six options for the school and of those were formally proposed to the council on Monday by Glynog Davies, Plaid Cymru cabinet member for education, and both involve building a new special school. During the meeting he said "children's welfare is an obvious priority" along with balancing the costs of the proposals would see a school created for 150 pupils which is estimated to cost £27.3m - £35.4m as well as developing proposals to build one primary and one secondary specialist centre for pupils with Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) attached to mainstream would see a review and revision of the current proposal to build a new special school and design it to include a provision for pupils with ASC with capacity for 250 pupils costing between £36.2m and £51.2m. After the meeting, Mr Jenkins said it came as a "relief" for the school after a "year of torment".He thanked the community for the "depth of feeling and love" towards the pupils and staff and said he looked forward to a "positive dialogue" with the council moving forward.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Special school options announced after protests
Two options for a new special school are to be investigated after protests over a council's decision not to replace the existing over-subscribed special school. About 300 campaigners marched through Llanelli in September claiming Carmarthenshire council broke a promise to fund a new building for Ysgol Heol Goffa. The council, which u-turned on plans to shut the school last year, said it was looking at either a 150-pupil school, or one with a capacity of 250. Campaigners called the announcement "really positive". A replacement school was first proposed several years ago at the former Draka copperworks site in Llanelli. The council decided not to press ahead with it last year citing soaring project costs. People with learning disabilities 'locked up' Call for talks over additional needs school U-turn 'Brutal' restraint of autistic boy in calming room The decision sparked dismay and anger among campaigners, and the council commissioned an independent review of additional learning needs (ALN) provision in the Llanelli area. The review's findings were published in February outlining six options for the school and ALN locally. The ones that are to be explored further are two of the six. Glynog Davies, Plaid Cymru cabinet member for education, said he would propose to cabinet colleagues they further investigate the two options and that whichever one was chosen the proposed replacement Heol Goffa would be larger than the one that was shelved. "The original plan that many had pressed for would have resulted in a smaller school, which would have been full on day one," he said. "Following the independent report we commissioned by David Davies, a former ALN head, I'll be recommending either a 150-capacity Heol Goffa school on one site, with primary and secondary specialist centres for a total of 115 pupils with autistic spectrum condition attached to mainstream schools, or a new ALN school for 250 pupils, to include provision for pupils with autistic spectrum condition. "Despite huge financial pressures, we are determined to ensure the very best provision for ALN pupils in the Llanelli area, future-proofed for decades to come. I'm asking for more definite costings and, as always, we will engage with Welsh government to ensure funding for the scheme," he added. Chairwoman of campaign group Ysgol Heol Goffa Action Committee and a parent of a pupil at the school, said: "The local authority has acknowledged we do need a new school. That's fantastic. "The action committee is really pushing for a 250-pupil school." Ysgol Heol Goffa is over-subscribed, she said, and had a big waiting list with the demand for ALN education increasing. "We don't want to be in this position again in 10 years' time," she said. The independent review described "an exponential rise" in the number of children and young people with autistic spectrum condition over the last decade. He added the growth of young people identified with ALN was unprecedented in Wales. "There is no doubt that the learning environment at Ysgol Heol Goffa is not currently fit for purpose and that this must be addressed," the report added. Tech giving Welsh accents back to disabled people Pupils mocked and put in headlocks by school staff NHS home care gaps leave families feeling stranded
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Llanelli: Special school options announced after protests
Two options for a new special school are to be investigated after protests over a council's decision not to replace the existing over-subscribed special school. About 300 campaigners marched through Llanelli in September claiming Carmarthenshire council broke a promise to fund a new building for Ysgol Heol council, which u-turned on plans to shut the school last year, said it was looking at either a 150-pupil school, or one with a capacity of called the announcement "really positive". A replacement school was first proposed several years ago at the former Draka copperworks site in Llanelli. The council decided not to press ahead with it last year citing soaring project costs. The decision sparked dismay and anger among campaigners, and the council commissioned an independent review of additional learning needs (ALN) provision in the Llanelli review's findings were published in February outlining six options for the school and ALN locally. The ones that are to be explored further are two of the Davies, Plaid Cymru cabinet member for education, said he would propose to cabinet colleagues they further investigate the two options and that whichever one was chosen the proposed replacement Heol Goffa would be larger than the one that was shelved. "The original plan that many had pressed for would have resulted in a smaller school, which would have been full on day one," he said."Following the independent report we commissioned by David Davies, a former ALN head, I'll be recommending either a 150-capacity Heol Goffa school on one site, with primary and secondary specialist centres for a total of 115 pupils with autistic spectrum condition attached to mainstream schools, or a new ALN school for 250 pupils, to include provision for pupils with autistic spectrum condition."Despite huge financial pressures, we are determined to ensure the very best provision for ALN pupils in the Llanelli area, future-proofed for decades to come. I'm asking for more definite costings and, as always, we will engage with Welsh government to ensure funding for the scheme," he added. Chairwoman of campaign group Ysgol Heol Goffa Action Committee and a parent of a pupil at the school, said: "The local authority has acknowledged we do need a new school. That's fantastic. "The action committee is really pushing for a 250-pupil school." Ysgol Heol Goffa is over-subscribed, she said, and had a big waiting list with the demand for ALN education increasing. "We don't want to be in this position again in 10 years' time," she independent review described "an exponential rise" in the number of children and young people with autistic spectrum condition over the last decade. He added the growth of young people identified with ALN was unprecedented in Wales."There is no doubt that the learning environment at Ysgol Heol Goffa is not currently fit for purpose and that this must be addressed," the report added.
