Pupils 'being put at risk' (From Free Press Series)

Pupils 'being put at risk'

A CHEPSTOW councillor fears the safety of children at his local school is being put at risk by a lack of secure fencing.

County councillor Cliff Meredith is calling on the education authority to install a fence around the entire boundary of Pembroke Primary school in Bulwark.

Cllr Meredith, who is also a governor at the school in Fairfield Road, says the site is completely open and being used as an unofficial right of way by residents.

The school is experiencing problems with vandalism, dog fouling and litter. Gangs of youths are also congregating in the school grounds in the evenings to drink.

Recently, a child who was playing football on the school field fell and sustained a severe cut to his leg from a broken bottle in the grass. The child was taken to hospital where he had stitches.

Cllr Meredith says the health and safety of the children at Pembroke Primary is paramount.

He said: "I am concerned about the safety of the children in the school and it is education authorities responsibility to make this school safe.

"I would like to see this sorted as soon as possible. They can find the money when they want something doing."

A number of houses in Queen's Road, Bulwark, back onto the school fields and some have garden gates opening directly onto the children's main play area.

Cllr Meredith says the playground is used as a thoroughfare for residents to get to Bulwark shops.

The school shares a boundary with Chepstow Athletic Club and Chepstow Cemetery and there is some chain link fencing.

The schools nursery is almost completely surrounded by ridged fencing and there are gates to the front. There are also CCTV cameras within the school grounds.

Headteacher Ralph Herron says the school grounds are cleaned by the caretaker every morning and children are well supervised when they are outdoors. Nevertheless, he agrees health and safety is a concern.

He said: "There is only so much you can do and you get sick of banging your head against a brick wall. This has to be done on a health and safety brief. It is a risk."

Cllr Meredith is due to hold a meeting on the issue with Granville Powell, senior officer with the school and student access unit.