News

Council u-turn over school closures following ‘attempt to bully’ charity trustees

Published

9 years ago

September 4, 2015

School changes: Council have made a U-turn on recent plans

A CONTROVERSIAL reorganisation of education provision in Haverfordwest appears to have been put on the back burner, following a number of protests and the threat of legal action.

Under the plans, Tasker Milward School would have been closed, and an 11-16 ‘superschool would have been created on the Sir Thomas Picton School site. A Welsh-medium school was to have been built on the Tasker Milward site.

The sixth form provision for the town would have been based at Pembrokeshire College.

The plans created uproar in Haverfordwest, with many people complaining that pupils in the town would have a lack of education choices compared to those living in areas of the county with school-based sixth form provision.

As The Herald revealed, the council also faced a possible legal battle with the trustees of the Tasker Milward and Picton charity, which owns the land on which Tasker Milward is built.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Director for Children and Schools, Kate Evan-Hughes, wrote a reportwhich said that since July 16, when PCC realised the extent of the potential legal issues and the present ‘offers to meet with the Trustees of the Tasker Milward and Picton Charity have not resulted in a meeting.

‘In order to progress the development of education provision for pupils in north, west and south Pembrokeshire – a fundamental part of the strategy to improve standards, it is proposed to postpone the element relating to Haverfordwest to enable further discussion in pursuit of a mutually agreeable solution that meets the case for change and the imperative to improve standards of attainment for young people.’

BULLYING

Former council leader Maurice Hughes confirmed today that attempts to arrange a meeting between the trustees and the local authority had been taking place between the parties’ legal representatives.Mr Hughes praised Stephen Hill of Price and Son in Haverfordwest for his diligence in dealing with the Council and told our reporter: “The Council was not prepared to meet our conditions for a meeting, which was a promise to keep an 11-19 school in Haverfordwest. In addition, the Council wished to impose conditions of its own before any meeting took place.”Mr Hughes then proceeded to disclose that the Council had threatened to build a new 11-16 school on a third site in Haverfordwest in order to bypass the objections of the charitable trust: “Personally,” Mr Hughes said, “I regard that as nothing short of an attempt to bully and blackmail the Trust into giving way.”

He continued: “The Council mucked up the consultation and was told it had before it started. It seems to me that a lot of time, effort, and money is being spent by the Council trying to get itself out a mess it made itself and which was completely avoidable. If I was still Council leader, I would not be very happy with the officer responsible for that happening.”

However, Maurice Hughes was not condemnatory of the attitude and action of all council officers: “Ian Westley, the new Chief Executive, came to my house to see me one evening and stayed for over two hours as we chatted around the issues. He had been briefed, that is obvious, I guessed by Kate Evans-Hughes (Director of Education). We spoke informally about a few ways of resolving the difficulties. I told him what I’ll say to you, the Education Department should have sorted this out before the consultation and not tried to ride roughshod over the Trust and local people.

“When there are claims of seeking a mutually satisfactory outcome to negotiations, what the Education Department means is getting its own way.”

On the decision to site a Welsh-medium school in Haverfordwest at a third site, Maurice Hughes commented that it appeared to be a case of the Education Department cutting of their nose to spite their face and wondered whether it was a sign of trying to force the trustees to give way.

“Of course,” Maurice said, “we’ve never had any objection to a Welsh-medium school being based on trust land. That’s a red herring. The issue – the only issue – is the provision of 11-19 schooling on one site in Haverfordwest. It seems to me that talking about consultation with us and then telling parents of children in St Davids that their children will be going to Pembrokeshire College after the age of sixteen, gives the game away about just how much consultation and compromise the Education Department has in mind.”

The Saveour6thform campaign group are delighted to note that the Extraordinary Council Meeting scheduled for 10th September 2015 recommending the closure of both Haverfordwest Secondary schools will be postponed to allow for further considerations.

We trust that the new recommendation will incorporate the needs of the County town to continue with the provision of choice for the already viable 11-19 School in Haverfordwest.

Charity

Letterston dog show raises over £750 for local charities

Published

15 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ON SUNDAY (Dec 22), Letterston Ring Craft successfully raised £755.55 for two Pembrokeshire-based charities during a fun dog show event. The funds were equally split between South Pembrokeshire Cat Rescue and Letterston Memorial Hall.

The event featured a variety of well-attended classes, including child handling and fancy dress, drawing participation from dog enthusiasts of all levels.

This fundraiser marked the first charitable event supporting South Pembrokeshire Cat Rescue. Founded and managed by Lizzy Austwick, the rescue organisation aids unwanted, feral, and sick cats across Pembrokeshire and responds to urgent cases in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion. The rescue provides neutering support for stray and feral cats, directs owners to available resources, and specialises in helping stray cats with severe injuries, raising essential funds for their care.

For assistance, Lizzy can be contacted via the rescue’s Facebook page or at 07575 131443.

Letterston Ring Craft welcomes new members interested in training and showing their dogs, from local companion shows to prestigious events like Crufts. The club meets every other Sunday in Letterston, and further details can be found on their Facebook page.

Looking ahead, the next fun dog show is scheduled for early next year and will support Belle’s Story Charity. For more information or to get involved, contact Gentle Lowe at 07956 653401.

Charity

£3,800 donated to services across Withybush Hospital

Published

16 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE CAMROSE VINTAGE WORKING DAY team has donated £3,800 to services across Withybush Hospital.

Their 37^th annual event raised a record breaking £25,000, which has now been distributed among 26 local charities.

They donated the funds to the Stroke Ward, Specialist Respiratory Team, Chemo Day Unit and Heads Up! Hair Loss Initiative at Withybush Hospital. Each service received £950.

The Heads Up! initiative provides a person-centred, holistic hair loss service for cancer patients. It brings together healthcare and haircare professionals from local communities to give patients the knowledge and products needed to manage their hair loss with dignity and choice.

Katie Hancock, Fundraising Officer, said: “Thank you to Andrew, the team and the supporters of the Camrose Vintage Working Day for your generosity once again. Your donation to each service is amazing and will make a big difference. We are hugely grateful for your wonderful support.

“The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive.”

Pictured above: Andrew James, Chairman of Camrose Vintage Working Day with Withybush Hospital staff from the Stroke Ward, Specialist Respiratory Team, Chemo Day Unit, Heads Up! Hair Loss initiative.

Community

Neyland Community Christmas Lunch a festive success

Published

17 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

NEYLAND TOWN COUNCIL rolled up their sleeves to support this year’s Community Christmas Lunch, spreading festive cheer and warm hospitality to attendees on Christmas Day at the Alumchine.

Councillors Steve Campodonic, David Devauden, Steve Thomas, and Brian Rothero began their efforts as early as 7:30am, working tirelessly to ensure the event ran smoothly.

The dedicated organisers, including Trish Campodonic, Pam, and Lloyd Hamilton, along with other volunteers, created a welcoming space filled with festive spirit and a delicious meal with all the trimmings.

The event brought together members of the community who might otherwise have spent the day alone, highlighting the warmth and generosity that Neyland is known for.