Cardiff councillors call for schools solution

Cardiff west politicians are calling for a quick solution to the schools reorganisation issue in Canton. Councillors in Canton have said it is up to the administration to find a solution, while members of the executive have said it is up to the local AM, MP and first minister – who rejected the council's proposals last month . All agree something needs to be done soon and a number of proposed options have been made. Labour councillor Ramesh Patel said: "We are hoping the administration will come up with a solution soon on this matter." Following talks with the executive member for schools Freda Salway, the Labour councillors have proposed a new build school, English- or Welsh-medium, on the Suffolk House site and have asked for details of empty council-owned premises in the area. See the letter here: Patel said: "We are trying to do it in a proper manner and have a proper dialogue which is what we feel is the most constructive way for finding a solution for Treganna." Speaking at a public meeting with parents in Canton on Monday, Plaid Cymru leader Neil McEvoy said a solution to overcrowding in Treganna must be sought immediately. He said: "I am outraged this has been allowed to happen and it's time for the AM, MP and first minister to put forward their solution." McEvoy said a new build would take a long time and would be met by objections from the Welsh Assembly Government as it does not tie in with their policy. He said the council were looking into a judicial review of the decision made by the first minister Carwyn Jones last month. Spokesperson for culture in Plaid Cymru, Bethan Jenkins was also present at the meeting and said she would be taking the Canton schools decision to the Welsh Assembly. She said: "We need a root and branch change of the Welsh education system because if it's not working in the capital city it will not work in the rest of Wales. We need a group set up to look into changing the Welsh language strategy so ministers cannot throw out decisions made by a democratically elected council."