COUNCILLORS look set to give the go ahead for public consultation into a new Welsh school.

Following outline planning permission to build a new Welsh language school in Gwersyllt, the executive board will be asked to press ahead with a consultation period.

Speaking ahead of the executive board meeting next Tuesday, senior school improvement officer Dafydd Ifans said: “It will be formal consultation with stakeholders in the area.

“We will be going to a number of public meetings and speaking to potential users and parents.

“We will also consult with other people in the area.”

Council Leader Aled Roberts stressed they hoped to press ahead with the consultation despite the possibility of the funding being delayed by a year.

It was hoped that £4.2 million Welsh Assembly Government funding could be delivered by 2011-12 but officials said it could now be deferred until the financial year 2012-13.

Chief Executive Isobel Garner said: “Our priorities are to get this moving.

“We are working with our partners to make this happen.”

Executive members will be asked whether they agree for the matter to go to public consultation.

-COUNCILLORS will also decide next week whether plans to merge two schools should go out to consultation.

The proposal is to merge Chirk Infants and Ceiriog Junior Schools into one single school with just one headteacher.

Both schools are close to each other but are currently on separate sites.
In Wrexham there have been nine pairs of infants and junior schools that have joined together.

Council Leader Aled Roberts said it was a council policy to make schools ‘all-through’ primary education.

Executive board members of Tuesday will be asked to recommend for the proposal to go out to consultation.

Cllr Roberts said: “I think it helps to have one management team and it means children can have the same arrangements between 3 and 11.”

Senior School Improvement Officer Dafydd Ifans said that staff, parents and governors would be asked for their thoughts on the scheme.