Two options for new Heol Goffa school to cater for more pupils

TWO options for a new special school in Llanelli are to be investigated, a senior councillor has said.

- RICHARD YOULE

One option would be a 150-pupil school, the other a 250-pupil school. Both options would result in a larger provision than the current oversubscribed Ysgol Heol Goffa.

A replacement Ysgol Heol Goffa was proposed several years ago at the former Draka copperworks site, Llanelli, but the council decided not to press ahead with it last year, citing soaring project costs.

The decision sparked dismay and anger among campaigners, and the council commissioned an independent review of additional learning needs (ALN) provision in the Llanelli area.

The review’s findings were published in February, outlining six options for the school and ALN locally. The ones that are to be explored further are two of the six.

Cllr Glynog Davies, Plaid cabinet member for education, said he will propose to cabinet colleagues that they further investigate the two options, and that whichever one is chosen, the proposed replacement Heol Goffa will be larger than the one that was shelved.

“The original plan that many had pressed for would have resulted in a smaller school, which would have been full on day one,' said Cllr Davies.