A NEW special needs school for Llanelli has finally been given the green light after what campaigners described as a “year of torment.”
The replacement for Ysgol Heol Goffa was first proposed in 2017, with plans to relocate and expand the facility to meet growing demand. However, the project was thrown into uncertainty last year when Carmarthenshire County Council announced that spiralling construction costs meant the original plans could no longer go ahead.
That decision sparked outrage among parents and carers, with around 300 people joining a protest outside County Hall in Carmarthen in September 2024. Demonstrators accused the council of breaking its promise to fund a new building for the school.
Now, following a unanimous vote, the council has backed revised proposals that will see a new special school built – though the precise form it will take is still being decided.
Owen Jenkins, chair of governors at Ysgol Heol Goffa, welcomed the move. He said: “This is a relief after a year of torment. But we’ll be keeping up the pressure to ensure the council delivers on what was promised eight years ago.”
In May, the council had formally withdrawn from its earlier plan, citing financial pressures. An independent review of Additional Learning Needs (ALN) provision was then commissioned and published in February, offering six options for the future of specialist education in the area.
Two of those options were put forward at a council meeting on Monday by Cllr Glynog Davies, Cabinet Member for Education. Both proposals involve building a new school, either:
- A facility for 150 pupils, estimated to cost between £27.3 million and £35.4 million, alongside new specialist ASC (Autistic Spectrum Condition) units at mainstream primary and secondary schools; or
- A revised version of the original new-build plan, expanding capacity to 250 pupils including specific provision for ASC pupils, at a cost of £36.2 million to £51.2 million.
During the debate, Cllr Davies said children’s welfare remained the council’s priority but acknowledged the need to balance that against financial constraints.
Campaigners welcomed the council’s change in stance. Outside the school, demonstrators held banners reading “Protect, Care, Love Ysgol Heol Goffa” and described the new proposals as “really positive.”
Mr Jenkins praised the community for its support, saying the decision marked the start of a “more positive dialogue” between the school and the local authority.
