I WISH to correct the comments made by Oliver Lewis of Reform and his contempt towards the new Welsh school at Maesydre Welshpool.
In the first place the previous Powys Independent and Conservative administration need to be congratulated for committing to investing in new schools at Welshpool and ensuring that our young people there have the appropriate facilities for the 21st Century. Likewise the current Lib Dem and Labour administration for ensuring the work is completed.
Yes, we’re all well aware of the extra work and cost as a result of Cadw registering part of the old school, and attempts to delay matters with spurious arguments over an unused public footpath and who could have envisaged that the previous contractors were going to go bust.
However, that’s not a reason for undermining the provision of new schools for the young people of Welshpool. The English medium school has already opened and the Welsh medium one will provide equity of provision in the community.
OTHER NEWS:
If the letter holder had made an effort to understand matters, he would know that the current school is old, leaking and is not suitable and it’s thanks to Welshpool Town Council that they have assisted with temporary accommodation provision or there would be nowhere for the pupils to go.
Likewise he would know that Estyn, the schools inspectorate, in 2011 and 2019 criticised Powys Council severely for the lack of provision of bilingual education, of the historical lack of investment, of the forward planning, of the strategic thinking and of a clear pathway of provision right through from nursery to post 16.
That is why there are only 22 schools in Powys in February 2022 with any provision of Welsh, although severely limited in even some of those, as compared to 65 English medium.
So to make spurious sweeping statements, misinform and try to blame the closure of rural schools on the provision of proper bilingual education is contemptible to say the least and totally ignorant of the facts.
The young people of Welshpool deserve the best possible schools, the best provision and support and to have a representative of a political party to try and undermine our young people’s future is a disgrace.
For once, let’s celebrate the fact that we have cross party unity in Powys wanting to correct the historical failings and lack of investment in school buildings and the provision of bilingual education, as opposed to the bile of contempt and division from the Reform party which sows the seeds of hate towards our bilingual young people, and I very much look forward to the official opening of the new school at Maesydre and being able to celebrate it with the parents and the next generation of Welshpool.
Cllr Elwyn Vaughan
