A bid to protect the site of a Monmouthshire school for educational or community purposes after it closes has been defeated, with questions over its future use dismissed as ‘premature.’
A motion put forward by the leader of the council’s Labour group, Cllr Dimitri Batrouni, called on the authority to “place restrictions” on the site of Mounton House special school in Pwllmeyric.
This would have meant the site could only be used for “educational or local community purposes in order to ensure the site is not sold for housing by the current or any future administration.”
Councillor Batrouni said the motion was to reassure those ‘fearful’ that the land will not be used for housing in the future.
The council has decided to close the school for boys aged 11-16 with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties after the end of this academic year, and says it will develop alternative provision which caters for a wider range of pupils with additional learning needs in the county.
At a full meeting on Thursday, Labour councillor Tudor Thomas backed the motion, saying that parents of pupils at the school would feel “incredibly let down” if the site was turned into housing in the future.
And councillor Armand Watts said the site is “potentially prime real estate”, adding developers would be “salivating at the profit involved.”
But councillor Richard John – cabinet member for children, young people and Mon Life – said it was ‘premature’ to ask about the future use of the site so soon after the decision to close the school.
He said the council’s primary concern was for the wellbeing of children with additional learning needs, and not the future use of the site.
But he said there have been “no discussions” about using the site for housing.
“I do not support binding the hands of either this administration or the hands of future administrations,” he added.
“It’s for future councillors to take whatever steps they believe are necessary to deliver the best possible benefits for the people they represent.”
Councillor John also accused opposition councillors of “crocodile tears” over the decision to close the school, saying they had not taken part in consultations on the issue.
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