CANDLELIT VIGIL FOR SCHOOLS; Parents are angry about education shake-up plans.

Byline: Katie Norman;Matt Nicholls

CONCERNED parents held a candlelit vigil to voice their concerns over a controversial education shake-up.

At a public meeting last night, MP Julie Morgan joined residents at the Ararat Church Centre in Whitchurch, Cardiff, expressing their thoughts and feelings about Cardiff council's proposed reorganisation of schools in the area.

The council has put forward threeoptions for changestoeducation inWhitchurch, as part of its pounds 30m reorganisation of education provision across the city. All three options include merging the area's English-medium primary schools, Eglwys Newydd and Eglwys Wen, into one school. The proposals also include downsizing the 12-form entry Whitchurch High School to nine-form entry and increasing the intake at the Welshmedium Ysgol Melin Gruffudd primary school.

Mrs Morgan said last night: "Whitchurch is a wonderful place.

"We have a great secondary school and three marvellous primary schools. I want, if there is any way possible, to find a way forward that pleases everybody.

"But looking at the three options, there is no option that does that."

The council has claimed action is necessary to address the issue of falling pupil numbers across the city, while meeting the increased demand for Welsh-medium education.

But the proposals have angered many residents because they include plans to dispose of some of the affected schools' land.

Campaigners fear the surplus land could eventually be used for new housing developments, which they claim would put a strain on an already crowded Whitchurch.

To highlight the issue, residents have erected estate agent-style boards outside their homes declaring "Cardiff council to destroyWhitchurch". At last night's vigil, Joyce Crandon, Whitchurch High chair of governors, who has a grandson in Eglwys Newydd, said: "All that is needed here is better accommodation. The council promised that 29 years ago.

"The sad thing is they've got the funding to do that now but they don't want to."

Gareth Richards, chair of governors atEglwysWen,whohas a son in Whitchurch High, said: "The council is going to spend pounds 20m trying to reduce surplus places, but with these proposals I can't see them doing that.

"There are still going to be 8,500 surplus places left at the end of it. It's crazy."

Ex-Whitchurch High School student Geraint Denison said: "There is a hidden agenda here. Whitchurch is where the council can build the most expensive housing.

"It's all about land value, which is just disgraceful."

Cardiff council is encouraging as many people as possible to give their views on the proposed changes to education provision inWhitchurch before the end of the consultation period on Friday, December 18.

Coun Freda Salway, the council's executive member for edu-cation and lifelong learning, said: "We know there has been a great deal of interest in the proposals for the reorganisation of schools inWhitchurch.

"It is important that anyone with an interest in these plans finds out more and has the opportunity to air their views." People can get information at drop-in sessions at LlandaffNorth Library from 2pm until 7pm today and from 9am until 1pm tomorrow.Drop-in sessions willbe held at Whitchurch Library from 2pm until 7pm tomorrow and from 9am until 1pm on Thursday.

Comments can be submitted via the council's website or by e-mailing [e-mail]

CAPTION(S):

Julie Morgan MP joins the protest Parents and pupils from Ysgol Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd urge the council to take action on overcrowding Campaigners in Whitchurch hold a candlelit vigil against plans to reorganise the local schools. Matthew Willacott, six, of Eglwys Wen Primary School, joins the protest