LLANDEILO: Green candidate’s bypass backing sparks row with Labour MS — as locals say just build it

A bypass that has been promised, delayed, reviewed and re-promised for more than half a century has found a new use — as ammunition in a Senedd election row between a Green Party candidate and the Labour MS whose seat he is now trying to win.

The flashpoint came when Cllr Rob James, the Green Party’s lead candidate for Sir Gaerfyrddin — the constituency covering the whole of Carmarthenshire — posted on Facebook backing the long-awaited Llandeilo bypass.

The bypass has been in the pipeline since it was first raised in Parliament in 1970. Feasibility studies were underway by 1973. Construction was supposed to begin in 2019. It didn’t. A new start date of 2025 was set. That didn’t happen either. The current estimate has construction beginning in 2029, with completion targeted for 2031 — and a price tag of £88 million, up from an original budget of £50 million.

Cllr James invoked the case of Ella Kissi-Debrah — the first person in the UK whose death was officially linked to air pollution — to make his case. “Air quality isn’t an abstract issue. It has real consequences,” he wrote, arguing that HGVs thundering through Llandeilo’s narrow streets every day were creating real health risks.

Llandeilo is a designated air quality management area due to historic breaches in nitrogen dioxide levels. “Doing nothing,” Cllr James said, “isn’t a Green option.”

Lee Waters, the outgoing Labour MS for Llanelli — whose constituency has been absorbed into the new county-wide Sir Gaerfyrddin seat at this election — was unimpressed. A champion of sustainable transport who is not seeking re-election in May, his response on Facebook was brief and pointed: “Novel to have a Green candidate who favours building a by-pass on a flood plain.”

Waters then contacted media outlets to pile on further, saying: “See this Facebook comment from the lead Green candidate in Carmarthenshire, doubling down in favour of a by-pass. Needless to say, this is not Green policy.”

There is some irony in Waters taking this particular stand. As transport minister, he oversaw a review that froze most new road-building projects in Wales — but the Llandeilo bypass was one of the few schemes that survived the cull. A consultant, Arcadis, was subsequently appointed to develop the outline design. The bypass remains Welsh Government policy — a point Cllr James was quick to make.

“The Welsh Government has decided to take forward the Llandeilo bypass, so it’s Labour Party policy,” Cllr James hit back. “Obviously there are concerns about its precise routing and there’s a need to make sure that environmental factors are taken into consideration. To be fair, Plaid Cymru, which controls the county council, has taken that view for a long time. Llandeilo deserves its bypass.”

While the two traded blows online, Carl Peters-Bond, an independent candidate for Sir Gaerfyrddin, said the whole row was missing the point. “Having listened to the people of Llandeilo, they’re not interested in political spats — they just want their bypass built,” he said.

Peters-Bond, who has been campaigning in the town, said the reality on the ground was hard to ignore. “Whilst campaigning recently in Llandeilo it was not possible to hold a conversation for more than a few seconds before getting deafened by huge HGVs thundering through the narrow streets. Air pollution, noise and road safety concerns in Llandeilo are a real concern for residents.”

He added: “The bypass has been talked about at length for decades. It’s a trunk-route part of the major A483 that links South West and North Wales. The volume of heavy goods and other vehicle traffic that navigate the narrow roads have far exceeded what is safe. It’s about time the bypass was built.”

Cllr James also used the exchange to make a bold claim about the Greens’ prospects in the constituency. “The Labour vote in Carmarthenshire has collapsed and we believe the Greens are likely to poll higher than Labour. We are definitely in with a chance of winning a seat here,” he said.

The spat is not without its backstory. Cllr James was previously the leader of the opposition Labour group on Carmarthenshire County Council before being suspended by the party in January 2024 and subsequently joining the Greens.

His path out of Labour followed an incident in which he was accused of sending a text message to a Plaid Cymru councillor suggesting they could have some fun by claiming that Waters had two homes in Llanelli and didn’t live in either of them. He said the message was meant facetiously and that he had forgotten sending it. Party officials said allowing him to remain in Labour’s parliamentary candidate selection process would risk reputational damage for the party.

That history between the two makes the Facebook spat feel like rather more than an abstract policy debate — and all the while, in Llandeilo, the lorries keep coming through.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Consultant appointed to progress Llandeilo bypass scheme
The Welsh Government appointed Arcadis Consulting to develop the outline design for the long-awaited A483 bypass.

Former Carmarthenshire Labour leader defects to Green Party
How Cllr Rob James made the move from Labour group leader to Green Party Senedd candidate.

Controversial Welsh transport minister to leave post
Lee Waters steps down as transport minister and announces he will not seek re-election.

Freeze on new roads projects to be announced
The road-building review that froze most Welsh Government schemes — but not the Llandeilo bypass.

AMMANFORD: Questions raised over future of school land as council stays silent

A Carmarthenshire councillor is demanding answers over land purchased for a new school in Ammanford, after years of promises with no sign of building work on the horizon.

Carmarthenshire County Council confirmed in 2023 — following questions from Green Party councillor Rob James — that it had bought land for a new school in the town, with Welsh-medium provision described as a priority. At the time the purchase was seen as a significant step forward after more than a decade of discussion about modernising education in the area.

But despite the land acquisition, there has been no public update on when — or whether — a school will actually be built there.

Recent council decisions have focused on reconfiguring nursery provision within existing schools, with no corresponding announcement on the new build. That silence has prompted Cllr James to write formally to the Cabinet Member for Education seeking answers.

He wants the council to confirm whether it still owns the land, whether the project remains active, and whether alternative brownfield sites have been fully considered as part of a sustainable approach to development.

Cllr James, who is also the Welsh Green Party‘s Senedd candidate for Sir Gaerfyrddin, said residents had been hearing about new school plans in Ammanford for years without seeing any results.

“The council has even gone as far as purchasing land, yet there is still no clear timeline for when a new school will be built,” he said. “People deserve to know what is happening with the land that has been purchased and whether this long-promised investment is still going ahead.”

The Green councillor said the condition of existing school buildings made the lack of progress all the more frustrating.

“Having visited the schools in Ammanford, I know that the environment in which pupils are being taught in is not fit for purpose,” he said.

The need to modernise education provision in Ammanford has been recognised since at least the early 2010s, when proposals for new and reorganised schools first featured in the council’s Modernising Education Programme. More than a decade on, the community is still waiting for a clear plan — and Carmarthenshire is not alone in facing questions about the future of its schools, with rural communities across the county facing the threat of closures as the council presses ahead with its wider modernisation programme.

Cllr James has form for holding the council to account on infrastructure and investment. He has previously challenged transport plans he said left west Wales communities behind, and the Ammanford area has featured in broader debates about investment in the region’s towns and transport links.

Cllr James said the issue was ultimately one of transparency and accountability.

“After more than a decade of discussion, the community deserves clear answers,” he said.

Carmarthenshire County Council has responded to say that they are not able to provide a comment to Swansea Bay News on this during the pre-election period for May’s Senedd election

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Rural schools under threat: Carmarthenshire communities face piecemeal closures as council defends tough decisions
Carmarthenshire communities have been fighting to keep local schools open as the council presses ahead with its modernisation programme.

Future of Llanelli, Ammanford and Carmarthen town centres set out in new plans
New plans set out the council’s vision for the future of Carmarthenshire’s main town centres.

Metro row: Carmarthenshire councillor blasts ‘Swansea-centric’ transport vision
Cllr Rob James challenged transport plans he said left west Wales communities behind.

Labour candidate backs metro link to Ammanford and Llanelli as debate grows over west Wales transport
The debate over transport investment in west Wales intensified as candidates staked out their positions.

Former Carmarthenshire Labour leader defects to Green Party
A high-profile defection boosted the Green Party’s growing presence in Carmarthenshire politics.

METRO ROW: Carmarthenshire councillor blasts ‘Swansea-centric’ transport vision

The latest row follows the unveiling of a long-term vision for a Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro — a plan that has been talked about for years but is still yet to secure full funding.

As previously reported in our coverage of the proposed £1.4bn transport overhaul for the region, the Metro has been billed as a transformative project to improve rail, bus and active travel links across south west Wales.

But critics now say the reality is falling far short of the ambition.

Carmarthenshire councty councillor and Green Party Senedd candidate, Rob James has launched a scathing attack on the latest announcement, branding it a “political stunt”.

He warned that the plans risk becoming “increasingly Swansea-centric”, with little clarity on what they will deliver for communities outside the city.

The Metro vision, backed by Welsh Government transport secretary Ken Skates and Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart, sets out a long-term ambition for improved connectivity across the region.

It includes proposals for new stations, better integration between transport modes and, in the longer term, the possibility of light rail or tram-style systems.

However, despite the big-picture vision, the scheme remains at an early stage — with no fully confirmed, ring-fenced funding in place for major infrastructure.

That lack of detail has become a key flashpoint.

Cllr James said:

“The latest announcement on the Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro should be called out for what it really is — a political stunt.

“The announcement provided little hope to the residents of Carmarthenshire that we will have reliable, affordable public transport in our county in the near future.”

He pointed to what he described as an imbalance in the proposals, claiming that multiple new stations or hubs are planned for Swansea, while Carmarthenshire appears to have been left with little concrete benefit.

“Despite the Metro having been discussed for the last ten years, we are still at the early planning stage with no ring-fenced capital funding allocated,” he said.

“The vision is becoming Swansea-centric… If we are to work collaboratively in our region, all areas must reap the benefits and I will not allow my county to be short changed.”

The comments come at a sensitive time, with the future of transport investment emerging as a key issue ahead of the next Senedd election.

Cllr James, who was formally the leader of the Welsh Labour group on Carmarthenshire Council before defecting to the Green Party, accused Welsh Labour politicians of attempting to “hide the lack of progress” on the Metro, calling for a shift away from what he described as “wish lists”.

“We need a Welsh Government that doesn’t support wish lists, but instead rolls up their sleeves and gets on with the job of modernising our public transport network,” he added.

Supporters of the Metro argue that the project is a long-term strategy designed to unlock economic growth, improve access to jobs and reduce reliance on cars across the region.

But with no firm timeline for delivery of the biggest elements, questions remain over when — or if — communities beyond Swansea will see real change on the ground.

For residents across Carmarthenshire, the concern is a familiar one — that major regional projects are announced with fanfare, but take years to materialise, if at all.

The debate over who benefits most from the Metro is now likely to intensify as more detail — and crucially, funding — either emerges or fails to do so.

RURAL SCHOOLS UNDER THREAT: Carmarthenshire communities face ‘piecemeal closures’ as Council defends tough decisions

The future of education in Carmarthenshire’s villages is hanging in the balance, with parents and residents expressing deep concern over the council’s strategy for its smaller schools.

The latest flashpoint is the closure of Ysgol Llansteffan, a decision made by Carmarthenshire County Council at its meeting on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. The school is set to close its doors on August 31, 2026, with pupils transferring to Ysgol Llangain.

This move has been met with significant local opposition from parents and campaigners who have fought to save the school, which has now seen a statutory closure notice issued by the local authority.

Carmarthenshire County Council has defended its decision, stating that Ysgol Llansteffan was identified for discontinuation based on criteria within its Modernising Education Programme. The council cited factors such as “extremely low pupil numbers,” “high surplus places,” and a “high number of pupils living within catchment attending other schools” as key reasons for the closure.

Furthermore, the council highlighted that pupil projections suggest there is little likelihood of numbers increasing dramatically over the next few years and pointed to a projected deficit budget at the end of this financial year for Ysgol Llansteffan.

Cllr Glynog Davies, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, expressed the difficulty of the decision, stating: “The decision to close Ysgol Llansteffan is difficult for everyone involved and it is, with sadness, that this has been agreed.”

He added that following a robust process, the discontinuation of Ysgol Llansteffan will enable the school to combine with Ysgol Llangain to provide safer staffing, the wider sharing of Welsh language among pupils and a more sustainable rural community.

However, this decision has not appeased all parties. The Wales Greens have been vocal in their criticism, warning that dozens of rural schools could be at risk under the council’s current approach. They argue that the council is responding to demographic changes with “piecemeal closures” rather than a coherent, long-term strategy to sustain rural education.

This concern is amplified by the fact that the council has also recently concluded consultations on proposals to shut down Ysgol Y Fro and Ysgol Meidrim, sparking fears among campaigners that even more rural schools could face closure this year.

Indeed, Ysgol Llansteffan now marks the seventh school to close its doors in Carmarthenshire since 2002, a tally accumulated under successive Plaid Cymru and Welsh Labour administrations, according to the Wales Greens.

The issue of rural school closures is far from new in Carmarthenshire, with a history of contentious proposals and strong community resistance. Past plans for Mynyddygarreg School and Pontyates School have faced significant opposition, with some proposals even being put on hold due to public outcry.

Leading the charge for the Greens is Councillor Rob James, who has accused the ruling parties of failing to protect rural education. Councillor James stated: “Since being in power in Carmarthenshire, Plaid Cymru have failed to prevent the steady loss of schools in our rural communities.”

Councillor James’s background adds a unique layer to the debate. He previously served as the leader of the Labour group on Carmarthenshire Council and even stood for the party in the last Senedd election.

His recent defection to the Green Party has seen him transition from leading the official opposition to becoming the first Green county councillor in Carmarthenshire. This shift in perspective comes after years of observing the council’s long-standing policies from within the Labour group.

Councillor James further criticised the council, adding: “This week’s decision to close Ysgol Llansteffan, while continuing consultations on Ysgol Y Fro and Ysgol Meidrim, shows clearly that they do not have a long-term plan to protect rural education in our county.”

The Wales Greens are now formally calling for a comprehensive, long-term rural schools strategy for Carmarthenshire. Their focus is on actively sustaining village schools and providing robust support to communities grappling with demographic shifts, rather than what they perceive as reactive closures.

They contend that the next Welsh Government and Carmarthenshire Council must do more to protect rural schools, warning that without a clear strategy, the fabric of our rural communities will continue to be slowly eroded.

This ongoing debate underscores the tension between the council’s need to manage resources in the face of changing demographics and the deeply held community desire to preserve local educational institutions.

Outrage after far‑right group urges parents to boycott school mosque visit

Voice of Wales, which has previously been linked to far‑right activism in South Wales, targeted Welsh Primary School, Ysgol Gymraeg Ffwrnes in Llanelli after the school arranged an educational trip to Swansea as part of the curriculum on world religions. The group made a series of false and inflammatory claims about Islam and encouraged parents to keep their children off school on the day of the visit.

The posts prompted a strong backlash from local residents, teachers and community leaders, who accused the group of spreading misinformation and stoking division. Voice of Wales has denied being a racist organisation, but its content has repeatedly drawn criticism from anti‑racism campaigners.

Llanelli Labour town councillor Shaun Greeney said the comments were “bitter and twisted racist remarks designed to incite hatred”.

“We’re entering a very dark place in Welsh politics when scoundrels like the so‑called Voice of Wales make such remarks aimed at the Muslim community attending the mosque in Sketty,” he said.

“My other concern is that it puts Furnace School at the centre of a storm of far‑right extremism. Such appalling remarks should be investigated by the police. It is high time the Voice of Wales site was taken down on the basis that such comments potentially incite violence.

“My biggest fear surrounds young people at the school, parents and teachers who have been thrust into the front line through no fault of their own. Visiting a mosque is part of a programme aimed at teaching school students about different religions and cultures so that they can become well‑informed and rounded citizens of the future.”

Cllr Greeney also warned of parallels with the unrest seen when far‑right activists infiltrated protests at the nearby Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli.

Green Party councillor Rob James, whose son attends Ysgol Gymraeg Ffwrnes and will be taking part in the mosque visit, also condemned the posts. He said he was “more than happy” for his child to visit a mosque, church, synagogue or temple as part of learning about different beliefs. “That is how we live in a tolerant Wales,” he said.

Residents responding to the posts criticised the rhetoric as fear‑mongering and divisive. One Llanelli parent, posting anonymously due to concerns about being targeted, described the claims as “misinformation, collective blame and emotional manipulation”. Others pointed out that school visits to places of worship have been part of the curriculum for decades.

Voice of Wales has been the subject of previous controversy, including its support for Cinema & Co during the venue’s anti‑COVID regulation stance in the pandemic — a position that drew criticism from anti‑racism groups after the cinema welcomed the organisation. The group has also been linked to previous incidents involving far‑right agitation in Swansea and Llanelli.

One of its founders, Dan Morgan, received a suspended jail sentence in 2023 for his role in a PPI call‑centre scam that targeted elderly and vulnerable victims.

Despite this, some comments beneath the group’s posts were supportive, while many others condemned the rhetoric and defended the school’s decision to teach pupils about different religions.

Voice of Wales refute claims that their organisation is racist.

Commenting on the news, Torsten Bell MP, said: “This is the second utterly disgraceful recent attempt by the far right to use children to further their politics of hatred and division in Swansea.

“It won’t work because parents know education should be celebrated not weaponised by extremists. And it won’t work because across Swansea and South Wales people want to celebrate the different communities that contribute so much to our civic, cultural and economic life.

“I have been in touch with Sketty Mosque to offer my solidarity and support. More importantly so have many parents and others across Swansea and Llanelli.”

Former Carmarthenshire Labour leader defects to Green Party

Cllr Robert James, who represents the Lliedi ward in Llanelli, was announced as the party’s newest councillor at the Wales Green Party conference in Cardiff.

Cllr James had led the opposition group at Carmarthenshire Council for nearly six years before being suspended by Labour in 2024. He had been sitting as an independent councillor since then. At the time of his suspension he said he would contest the decision, but Welsh Labour did not comment.

Announcing his move to the Greens, Cllr James said:

“During a time when our communities are the most divided in decades and the struggles our residents face continue to grow, I have joined a party that puts people and this planet first – by tackling crippling inequality, protecting public services and safeguarding the future of our environment.”

He added:

“As a Green councillor I will continue to fight for the interests of those living in Lliedi and Carmarthenshire more widely, to get the changes we desperately need.”

Cllr James has previously led campaigns to divest pension funds from fossil fuels, for a locally owned bus company for school pupils, and against cuts to local public services.

Green Party deputy leader Zack Polanski welcomed the defection, saying:

“I know this will be the first of many councillors who we will be welcoming to the Wales Green Party.I’m delighted to be welcoming Robert in person at this historic Wales conference where members are planning how to break through into the Senedd in the elections in 2026.

This defection of a county councillor shows that the momentum is building and more breakthroughs will follow. Rob is a pioneer – he was the youngest Labour group leader in Wales, and now the first councillor in Wales to join the Green Party from Labour. He won’t be the last – I know there are many more weighing up their decision.”

Wales Green Party leader Anthony Slaughter said the move showed “the political tectonic plates are shifting in Wales,” noting that the party’s membership had nearly tripled in two months to close in on 6,000.

The announcement came as the party met in Cardiff to plan its strategy for the 2026 Senedd elections.

The Greens also highlighted that former Caerphilly Council leader Sean Morgan has joined the party, having quit Labour in September after four decades of membership.

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#CllrRobJames #Defection #GreenParty #GreenPartyConference #Llanelli #Lleidi #politics #WelshLabour

Heol Goffa rebuild: Council faces critical decision on future of Llanelli’s special school

Carmarthenshire Council is preparing to vote on the future of Ysgol Heol Goffa — a school built for fewer than 100 pupils, now stretched to accommodate nearly 150 children with complex learning needs. The cabinet’s decision, due on 31 July, will determine whether the town gets a fast-tracked rebuild or a larger, more expensive consolidated site.

Two options remain. Option 4 proposes a new 150-place school with additional Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) centres attached to mainstream campuses. Option 5 would create a single 250-place school combining all specialist provision on one site.

Governors, staff and campaigners have rallied behind Option 4, citing speed, flexibility and the urgent need to relieve overcrowding. The current building has been flagged for leaking roofs, cramped corridors and limited space for mobility aids — conditions that may breach disability standards.

Independent reviewer David Davies recommended Option 4 after assessing six models, noting it would allow the council to meet its statutory duties under the Additional Learning Needs and Educational Tribunal Act (2018).

Political support for Option 4 has grown steadily. Plaid Cymru’s Education Cabinet Member Cllr Glynog Davies confirmed he will recommend it to cabinet, saying: “A new and enlarged Heol Goffa can be delivered in a shorter timescale than the alternative. What’s being proposed now will be a much better outcome for pupils, parents and staff.”

Independent Cllr Rob James, formerly Labour’s group leader, added: “Option 5 appears to reset the clock and delay the benefits a new school will deliver, while a new 150-pupil school could be built quickly. I call on the council to get the shovel in the ground as soon as possible.”

Reform UK’s Cllr Michelle Beer, elected in 2024, also backs Option 4: “It is a matter of urgency that the children, parents, and staff get the much-needed new facilities they deserve. The children and parents have waited patiently for a long time.”

But Labour Cllr Shaun Greaney has taken a more combative stance — not against Option 4 itself, but against the political handling of the rebuild. He warned that Reform UK’s growing influence could jeopardise the Welsh Government’s 75% capital funding offer, and accused Plaid Cymru of dragging their heels. “Reform have no policies for Wales, and no answers,” he said. “They have some very right-wing candidates and we know the right wing are no friends of children with special needs.”

Greaney also criticised the council’s refusal to meet with the Ysgol Heol Goffa Action Group, which submitted a petition with over 9,000 signatures. “The current school is substandard and past its sell-by date. That is fact, no matter how they try to spin the story,” he said. “Now here we are, eight years down the line, and despite the political grandstanding by the party in power in Carmarthenshire, Ysgol Heol Goffa’s children, parents and staff are still waiting for action.”

Campaigners say the building is no longer fit for purpose, citing inadequate toilet facilities, narrow doorways and a leaking roof. “Despite the county council having spent around £500,000 on the existing school building, there are still problems. It’s a dangerous situation,” said action group member Becki Davies. Chair Hannah Coles added: “Our school’s families and children can’t afford to wait any longer.”

If approved, Option 4 could see construction begin quickly — a relief for families who’ve waited years for change. For Llanelli’s disabled pupils, this isn’t just a building project. It’s a chance to learn, grow and thrive in a space designed for their needs.

Related stories on Heol Goffa and Carmarthenshire politics

Concerns raised over future of Heol Goffa special school
Councillor criticism, political tensions, and the call for swift action on the rebuild. Read more »

Council explores alternative plans for Heol Goffa replacement
Following the original scheme’s cancellation, Carmarthenshire Council looks to new build options. Read more »

Petition demands new school for Heol Goffa pupils
Campaigners deliver thousands of signatures urging the council to prioritise special school investment. Read more »

Reform surge shakes Carmarthenshire political landscape
A look at Reform UK’s rising influence and what it means for local council dynamics. Read more »

Polling shows Reform reshaping South West Wales politics
New data suggests a shift in voter sentiment as Reform gains ground against traditional parties. Read more »

#additionalLearningNeeds #ALN #ASC #Autism #AutisticSpectrumCondition #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CllrGlynogDavies #CllrRobJames #CllrShaunGreaney #disabledChildren #HeolGoffa #HeolGoffaActionCommittee #Llanelli #MichelleBeer #specialSchool #YsgolHeolGoffa

Llanelli Leisure Centre could become new home for Ysgol Dewi Sant

Once completed, the council’s new Pentre Awel development at Delta Lakes will house brand new leisure centre facilities.

The council are now debating the use of the current Llanelli leisure centre site, with education chiefs suggesting that it is used as a location for a new Ysgol Dewi Sant.

Council officers will now assess the site to see if it is suitable for a new school, and put forward an outline planning application.

Councillor Glynog Davies, the council’s cabinet member for education and Welsh language said: “The outcome of the outline planning will inform the possibility of locating the replacement school building for Ysgol Gymraeg Dewi Sant on the Llanelli Leisure Centre site,” 

Original £9.1m plans to relocate Ysgol Dewi Sant to recreational land in the Llanerch area of Llanelli was put on hold in 2018 before finally being shelved in 2020 following local resident’s concerns.

Chairman of Ysgol Dewi Sant’s governing body, Michael Bassett said: “We have trusted the process set by the authority of earmarking a suitable site and are pleased to hear that the authority is investigating a particular site in the hope that it will offer our school a suitable new home.

“A recent report by Estyn inspectors states that teaching standards at the school are of the highest standard, and I would like to thank all the school staff and pupils for their patience and excellent work. We very much hope that these early investigations will enable the school to develop and promote the Welsh language in the town.”

Rob James, an Independent Llanelli Councillor who represents the Lliedi ward who attended Ysgol Dewi Sant as a child, said he and the late Cllr Anthony Leyshon, who had also attended the school, had met council officers to press the case for a new site for Ysgol Dewi Sant over a period of years.

Cllr Rob James said: “We can finally announce that Carmarthenshire Council will soon commence investigative work on the suitability of using the current Llanelli Leisure Centre for the new Ysgol Gymraeg Dewi Sant.

“Cllr Anthony Leyshon and I discussed the need for a new site to be identified for the school over the last few years with senior council officers and it is fantastic that investigative works will soon begin.

“There are a number of challenges and opportunities in using the current leisure site for the school and I am eager to hear from pupils, teachings staff, parents and residents on this proposal.”

Concerns have already been raised around the suitability of the site to accommodate the anticipated additional school traffic on Park Crescent and Old Castle Road, as well as the need to segregate traffic and parking for the adjacent Selwyn Samuel Centre.

Campaigners have also raised the need to find a new location for Heol Goffa special school, and how this is a more pressing need than relocating Ysgol Dewi Sant.

Writing on social media, Richard Joseph Young said: “Why not use it for Heol Goffa school. Ramps, lifts, pools to use for hydrotherapy. Parking and parks near. Come on use your small brain. After 10 years of lies for Heol Goffa school, you owe it to these children and their parents.”

Carol West added: “You do have the Selwyn Samuel there with constant traffic. And access isn’t good. Cars park everywhere when picking up. Have you seen the road at the moment around Dewi Sant.. It’s gridlock. I don’t see where in that area you could accommodate that amount of traffic”

Deb Messing also thought the site would be better used for Heol Goffa, saying: “It’s a great location for Heol Goffa and most Heol Goffa children are taken to school by mini bus. Rather than individual children in individual cars so a lot less cars than if Dewi Sant was there. Then the existing Heol Goffa site could be used as a site for the new Dewi Sant, ideal location as it is in the same area. Parents without transport would have a lot further to walk to town.”

No decision has yet been made on the future of Heol Goffa school.

(Lead image: Google Maps)

#CarmarthenshireCouncil #CllrGlynogDavies #CllrRobJames #education #featured #LeisureCentre #Llanelli #LlanelliLeisureCentre #newSchool #PentreAwel #YsgolDewiSant