SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has expressed disappointment at yet another delay on a decision to merge four catholic schools.
Flintshire County Council are planning to close St David’s Catholic Primary School in Mold, St Anthony’s in Saltney, St Mary’s in Flint and St Richard Gwyn High School in Flint and build a £55 million superschool for pupils aged 3-18 on the site of St Richard Gwyn.
Mr Rowlands, who has campaigned on behalf of the objectors and has been running his own petition against the proposals, was commenting after Flintshire County Council confirmed that the consultation processes around the major school reorganisation proposals for the Catholic Diocese will need to begin again after the Senedd elections have been concluded.
He said: “I am extremely disappointed that this issue is continuing to drag on and has not already been resolved.
“Huge numbers have objected to this proposal and feedback from the previous consultation showed that over 95% of parents are against the controversial move yet councillors would not listen to public opinion.
“It is certainly not fair that once again parents, governors, teachers and local councillors are left in limbo.”
The Cabinet decision to consider the outcome of the statutory objections was paused on March 10 when a late legal challenge was received in relation to the Catholic proposal. The Council sought its own legal advice regarding this challenge and is in the process of reviewing the feedback from its barrister.
With the Senedd elections due to take place on May 7, all public bodies are now bound by rules governing activity during the formal ‘pre-election period’ which the Council is required to delay items that may be considered controversial. While the school organisation proposals are pressing, they are not sufficiently urgent to need consideration during the pre-election period.
The School Organisation Code also stipulates a fixed time period for school reorganisation proposals to be concluded following the start of public consultation. With the delay because of the pre-election period, this timescale cannot be met. As a result, the consultation process will need to begin again.
The Chief Officer for Education and Youth at Flintshire County Council, Claire Homard said: “We appreciate that all of the school communities impacted by these proposals need clarity about what is happening and acknowledge the frustration that these delays will be causing, but the Council needs to ensure that appropriate processes are followed and that legal advice has been fully considered.
“I can confirm that we will be seeking Cabinet approval to restart the consultation on both proposals in May, as soon as it is practicably possible after the election.
“I can also confirm that we will reflect on the result of the first consultation in relation to both proposals to improve how we communicate on issues of concern to the school communities, parents and carers.”
