Unions have voiced fears that about 80 jobs could be at risk at Llanelli’s Ysgol Heol Goffa after Carmarthenshire Council controversially axed plans for a new state-of-the-art school.
Staff at the special school are worried that the school could be forced to close after Plaid Cymru education chiefs announced the shock decision.
Gareth Lloyd, secretary of the Carmarthenshire Trades Council, which represents unions, said: “There are real fears amongst all the 80 or so staff at Ysgol Heol Goffa over the future of the school and their jobs
“The whole community are supporting the pupils, parents and staff in getting their promised new school.
‘The Education Unions in particular will be holding the decision makers to account and will not accept any job losses.
‘How we treat our most disadvantaged pupils and our educators in such a vital setting reflects on everybody.’
Helen Johns, NASUWT National Executive Member, said: ‘NASUWT stands ready to support all members and expects fairness for all.
‘Transparency is key to maintaining trust in the processes ahead.’
Local county and town councillors are also drawing up battle lines to fight the county council’s ‘morally contemptible’ and ‘shocking’ decision announced last week.
Labour town councillor Andrew Bragoli, who represents Lliedi ward, and is Community Union senior representative at Trostre, said: ‘I am disgusted with Plaid. They have promised the earth and gone back on a pledge pleading poverty when 75 per cent of the money for the scheme was coming from the Welsh Government.
‘The school is in a state. Staff have been left gutted by the news, parents and the children themselves have been betrayed.
‘It is a shocking decision and morally contemptible It’s education apartheid to treat pupils with special needs in this way.”‘
Llanelli Town Council leader David Dartkin said he was ‘furious’ at the decision.
“It looks to me that the county council will be failing in its obligations to the most vulnerable and needy children in our county.
‘Plaid Cymru are sending a strong signal that they couldn’t care about our disabled kids.’
More than 500 people have signed an online petition opposing the county council’s stance and calling for promises for a new school – first announced by Plaid seven years ago – to be honoured.
There will be a public meeting at the Selwyn Samuel Centre, Llanelli, tonight (TUES) at 6.30pm for parents to make their views known.
The meeting has been organised by Labour county councillors Rob James and Anthony Leyshon.
In a joint statement they said: ‘After seven years of talking and a significant amount of public funds spent on planning, we are incredibly disappointed that they are not proceeding with the new school.
‘It is outrageous that those pupils that are most vulnerable are not being supported with a school that meets their requirements.’
A demonstration will be held at County Hall, Carmarthen, today (WEDNESDAY) to show the strength of opposition to the county council’s decision to axe the new school.
Representatives of the CarmarthenshireTrades Council will be attending the rally at 9am.
