Archive - Tuesday, 9 March 2004


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School project 'best in Wales'

THE two new Abergavenny primary schools could help provide the best community facilities in Wales, a public meeting was told.

On Monday night, around 30 people attended the first of two meetings in the town, called by Monmouthshire education department, to talk about the new £7 million school on the former Llwynu Infants School site and the remodelling of Harold Road Junior School.

The projects are the result of the county's biggest shake-up of primary education which led to the closure of five of the town's existing schools in favour of the two new primaries.

Ron Bell, project manager at Abergavenny Community House, told the public meeting: "This is such an exciting project to have community use in the two schools. We can have the best community projects and be the best in Wales."

Phil Cooke, director of education for Monmouthshire, urged local people who have an interest in the schools to pool their ideas for the two projects to ensure Aber-gavenny had what the community needed.

One of the neighbours of the new £7 million school, Carol Williams, of Derwen Way, was concerned about the parking of cars when the school is used for evening classes.

She said: "Lots of people living near the site will be affected. The school site has only 40 parking spaces. Where will people park in the evening?

"We already have a problem in Derwen Way with people parking on the pavement. Will the situation be made worse by people using the school facilities?"

Mr Cooke replied: "We need neighbours to come in with ideas which we will take on board."

At the end of the meeting, county councillor Alan Breeze said: "There have been many arguments over the strategic review, but now is the time for us all to work together to make sure we get the best possible schools for Abergavenny."

There were around 20 parents at the second meeting, and many of them expressed their concern about the move by pupils from Harold Road Junior School to the St David's site while remodelling work goes on.