#cllr-deryk-cundy — Public Fediverse posts

BYNEA: Solar farm ‘would force closure of wellbeing sanctuary for children with additional needs’, councillor warns

Plans for a large solar farm between two villages on the edge of Llanelli would “destroy the rural environment, established walks and the health and wellbeing of hundreds of people”, a Carmarthenshire county councillor has warned.

Bynea Labour councillor Deryk Cundy says the development would force the closure of Brynteg Farm and Wellbeing Sanctuary — a centre used by children and adults with additional learning needs, alongside an animal rescue operation.

The scheme, known as Pencoed Ganol Solar Farm, would cover around 120 acres of countryside off Pendderi Road with roughly 75,000 solar panels, and remain in place for 40 years.

It is being brought forward by Windel Solar 11 Ltd, part of Windel Energy and Recurrent Energy, as a development of national significance — meaning the decision rests with Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) rather than the county council alone.

A construction compound of about six acres — close to the size of three-and-a-half rugby pitches — would be built just 120 metres from the farm.

That compound would house workers’ cabins, parking for construction vehicles and storage for scaffolding and about 10,000 tonnes of aggregate, during a build expected to last a year or more.

Cundy warned that the sanctuary would have to shut the moment work began, citing dust and noise from the site.

“To lose this irreplaceable centre of calm and tranquillity will place severe stress on respite centres and schools throughout Carmarthenshire,” he said.

He described a landscape of “green rolling countryside of hills and valley” turning to “black glass for 40 years”, and said the undulating land meant the panels could not be screened from view.

The impact, he added, would fall hardest on vulnerable visitors, “including people who are known to have neurodivergent issues”.

For Zara John, who owns the farm, the worry is immediate. She fears the plans on her doorstep put the whole business in doubt.

The sanctuary offers specialist support for children with additional learning needs, many of whom visit regularly to ride and to learn how to care for animals.

“With all the chaos in the background the children won’t be able to concentrate. The children will be afraid of noise,” she said.

“Without the riding school I won’t be able to teach the children how to care for animals properly. They won’t be able to learn to ride. It would close us down.”

John is calling for a compromise that would move the solar farm further from the sanctuary, so she can keep offering the provision in Bynea.

She said the visits were written into children’s individual development plans for a reason. “They can’t be in school all day. This is their escape. This is their sanctuary,” she said.

“Are we going to take all that away for a solar farm that could be moved to somewhere else or negotiated to certain fields?”

One regular visitor, teenager Dexter Howell, called the sanctuary a second home. He said it was “the place that stops me being antisocial and start talking to people”, and that he would hate to see it close.

His mother, Carrie, said owners Phil and Zara had not only given her son an education but had changed his life.

The plans have united opponents from opposing parties, with Labour’s Cundy and Reform councillor Michelle Beer both campaigning against the development.

A petition started by Beer has now passed 2,000 signatures and calls on both PEDW and Carmarthenshire County Council to reject the application.

It argues the development would turn 120 acres of productive farmland into an industrial site, ringed by a fence more than three metres high and stretching over three kilometres.

Campaigners also fear glare from the panels could hamper the Wales Air Ambulance, and raise concerns about noise from more than a dozen industrial inverters, historic mining beneath the land, and the effect on nearby homes.

Windel Solar 11 Ltd says the project will provide local renewable energy, support biodiversity through native planting and contribute to the local economy.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Petition launched against 120-acre solar farm plan for Bynea
Campaigners in Carmarthenshire oppose a large solar scheme, warning of its impact on farmland and a wellbeing sanctuary.

Plans unveiled for major new solar farm above Port Talbot
A 40MW solar farm is proposed on Margam Mountain, the latest in a wave of solar schemes across the region.

Llanelli hospital could be powered by new solar farm
Plans for a solar farm at Glyngwernen Farm could power Prince Philip Hospital and local public buildings.

LLANELLI: MP pleads with Plaid government to honour £27m promise for new special school

Llanelli’s MP has urged the new Plaid-led Welsh Government to “honour” a £27m commitment for a long-promised new special school in the town.

Dame Nia Griffith says repeated delays to the £35m Ysgol Heol Goffa project have caused “huge consternation and anxiety” for current pupils, parents and families still waiting for a place.

She has written to Anna Brychan MS, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Welsh Language, calling on her to give “early and full support” by committing to match-funding of 75 per cent for the school.

That figure matters. The usual Welsh Government contribution for a project like this is 65 per cent.

The previous Labour education minister, Lynn Neagle, had confirmed the new school would be eligible for the higher 75 per cent rate — subject to a satisfactory business case.

Dame Nia is now pressing the new Plaid administration to commit to that figure in full, rather than let it slip back to the standard rate.

Her intervention raises the stakes in a funding row that erupted at County Hall last week.

At a full meeting of Carmarthenshire County Council, Labour group leader councillor Deryk Cundy asked whether the authority’s 25 per cent share — roughly £9m — had been “ring-fenced” for the new school.

Plaid’s cabinet member for education, councillor Glynog Davies, replied: “It hasn’t been, well not yet.”

That answer angered Labour councillors, who pointed out that in December councillor Davies had told the same chamber the money “has been ring-fenced”.

“Which version of Glynog Davies’s answers are we, and the school community, to believe?” councillor Cundy said after the meeting.

He accused the administration of “dragging its heels”, asking why a business case would take 15 months when an independent report had already set out that the school needed to be expanded to meet legal requirements.

Lliedi councillor Shaun Greaney, a prominent campaigner for the school, said it was “disgraceful” that councillor Davies was now casting himself as its champion.

He said more than 9,000 people had signed a petition for a new school after what campaigners called Plaid’s “broken promises”, and accused the party of trying to “pull the wool over people’s eyes”.

Councillor Davies has firmly rejected that account. He has accused Labour of causing “unnecessary distress” and misrepresenting the process “for cheap political purposes”, insisting there is “no intention to pull out now”.

He has said the funding depends on a business case that has yet to be completed, and that the council is pressing ahead with plans for a larger school near Ysgol Penrhos.

A formal consultation on the £35m rebuild opened earlier this month, with responses running until 21 July, and the school earmarked to open in 2029.

The Welsh Government has been asked to confirm whether it will commit to the 75 per cent funding rate.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

HEOL GOFFA ROW: Plaid accuses Labour of causing ‘unnecessary distress’ over special school claims
Carmarthenshire’s education cabinet member hit back at Labour’s “£35m black hole” claims, calling them unfounded.

LLANELLI: ‘£35m black hole’ row erupts over Ysgol Heol Goffa funding
A council meeting revealed the money behind the £35m plans is not yet signed off.

LLANELLI: Consultation opens on £35m Ysgol Heol Goffa rebuild
The formal process is under way at last, with responses open until 21 July.

LLANELLI: £35m new Ysgol Heol Goffa to open in 2029 — but funding question hangs over Plaid government
The project cleared a major hurdle, but councillors want Welsh Government funding protected.

HEOL GOFFA ROW: Plaid accuses Labour of causing ‘unnecessary distress’ over special school claims

Plaid Cymru’s education cabinet member has accused Labour councillors in Llanelli of causing “unnecessary alarm and distress” to parents and staff at Ysgol Heol Goffa — escalating the row over funding for the town’s promised £35m special school.

The row erupted after Wednesday’s full council meeting, when Labour claimed a “£35m black hole” sat beneath the plans after Cllr Glynog Davies confirmed funding for the project had not yet been formally committed by either the council or the Welsh Government.

In a statement issued on Friday, Cllr Davies branded the Labour claims “unfounded” — and said the suggestion that the new school may not go ahead was an insinuation made for political ends.

“They obviously don’t understand, or choose to misrepresent the process, for cheap political purposes,” he said.

“Work on designing the larger 150 pupil school on a new site is well advanced, so I can assure parents, staff and learners that there is no intention to pull out now. Changing government in Cardiff has no bearing on this, because government funding depends on presenting the full business case, which will happen shortly.”

The cabinet member reserved his sharpest words for Llanelli Labour town councillor Shaun Greaney — a longstanding campaigner on the school — over what Cllr Davies said was an accusation that Plaid councillors had “an old-fashioned attitude to children with special needs”.

“It’s quite shocking that Cllr Shaun Greaney, who seems to live in a constant state of outrage, should accuse Plaid councillors of having ‘an old-fashioned attitude to children with special needs’,” he said. “Moving ahead with a larger new school, costing tens of millions of pounds, disproves his allegations.”

And he linked Labour’s attacks to the party’s performance in last month’s Senedd election: “I appreciate that Labour must be in trauma after their devastating losses in the Senedd elections, but for them to cause unnecessary distress on this issue is reprehensible.”

Labour’s claims followed the chamber exchange in which Cllr Davies confirmed funding had not yet been signed off. Labour opposition group leader Cllr Deryk Cundy said afterwards: “Clearly, despite all the public fanfares, no money has been actually committed to the new Ysgol Heol Goffa. My biggest fear is that Plaid will claim again — at some point in the future — that it doesn’t have enough money to proceed with the new school, as they have in the past.”

Cllr Greaney had said the school community would be “devastated” if the funding position set out in the chamber was correct — adding: “Personally, I think they are a disgrace and should all resign.”

Under the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning programme, the council would pay a quarter of the cost of the new school with the government contributing 75 per cent — but the government’s share is only confirmed once the council submits a full business case, which Cllr Davies says “will happen shortly”.

The school for pupils with additional learning needs was first promised a replacement building a decade ago. The council scrapped the previous plans in May 2024 citing rising costs — prompting a petition of more than 9,000 signatures — before re-committing in 2025 to a £35m, 150-place school near Ysgol Pen Rhos, with a planned opening of September 2029.

The formal consultation on the proposals is open until Tuesday 21 July.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

LLANELLI: ‘£35m black hole’ row erupts over Ysgol Heol Goffa funding — days after consultation opens
The full council exchange — and what it means for families.

LLANELLI: Consultation opens on £35m Ysgol Heol Goffa rebuild — two years after council scrapped the last one
How to have your say on the proposals.

LLANELLI: £35m new Ysgol Heol Goffa to open in 2029 after years of uncertainty — but funding question hangs over Plaid Cymru government
Our report from May on the school’s long road to approval.

LLANELLI: ‘£35m black hole’ row erupts over Ysgol Heol Goffa funding — days after consultation opens

Parents being asked this month for their views on Llanelli’s promised £35m new special school have been caught in the middle of a political row — after a council meeting revealed the funding behind the project has not yet been signed off.

Labour claims a “£35m black hole” sits beneath the plans for the new Ysgol Heol Goffa after Carmarthenshire’s education cabinet member confirmed at Wednesday’s full council meeting that funding for the project has not yet been formally committed — by either the council or the Plaid Cymru Welsh Government.

Pressed in a supplementary question on the absence of ring-fenced funds for the school in the council’s capital budget, Cllr Glynog Davies told the chamber: “Well no, it hasn’t been confirmed, neither had it been confirmed in the past because that business case had not been presented and approved.

“But as I said, we have an excellent track record. I have confidence in the team of officers that we have in the department and those plans we present I can assure you are robust — and we are moving forward at pace, and once that business case is presented, we will get an affirmative answer I hope.”

In practical terms: the council pays a quarter of the cost and the Welsh Government three-quarters — but the government’s share is only confirmed once the council submits a detailed business case for the project, which has not yet happened. The council says that is the normal sequence and its track record of winning approval is strong; Labour’s fear is that “not yet confirmed” becomes “not affordable”, as it did when the last version of this school was scrapped in 2024.

On Friday — two days after the chamber exchange — Cllr Davies went further, issuing a statement branding Labour’s claims “unfounded” and giving parents a direct assurance that the school will be built.

“Work on designing the larger 150 pupil school on a new site is well advanced, so I can assure parents, staff and learners that there is no intention to pull out now,” he said. “Changing government in Cardiff has no bearing on this, because government funding depends on presenting the full business case, which will happen shortly.”

He accused Labour councillors of misrepresenting the process “for cheap political purposes” — saying it was “reprehensible” for them “to cause unnecessary distress on this issue”.

The school for pupils with additional learning needs has had a turbulent decade. A replacement for the ageing building was first pledged ten years ago — before the council scrapped the plans in May 2024 citing rising costs, prompting a campaign by parents, unions and town councillors that gathered a petition of more than 9,000 signatures.

The council re-committed in June 2025, and a month later approved a £35m, 150-place school near Ysgol Pen Rhos, with a planned opening of September 2029 — though a question mark over the funding followed the new Plaid Cymru Welsh Government into office. The formal consultation on the project opened this week.

The funding question was raised at Wednesday’s meeting first by Cllr Rob James — the council’s former Labour group leader, who defected to the Greens and stood for the party in May’s Senedd election — before Labour opposition group leader Cllr Deryk Cundy pressed the administration on whether the Welsh Government would guarantee the 75 per cent contribution towards the build that he said had previously been allocated.

Answering in Welsh through the chamber’s simultaneous translation service, Cllr Davies said the council was working closely with the Welsh Government through its Sustainable Communities for Learning programme — and that the government had approved the council’s strategic outline programme in summer 2024, which included a project for additional learning needs in Llanelli, with Heol Goffa “viewed as part of that review”.

“Every project is subject to an individual business case approval,” he said. “We as a county have a very good track record for these schemes that we present. With special schools, as in this case, a 75 per cent contribution from the government — but this is dependent on the final business case. We haven’t got to that stage yet.”

Switching to English, he added: “And I have to correct you, Deryk — the former Labour government had not given the guaranteed allocation to the previous Heol Goffa project. But we will continue to work constructively with Welsh Government as we have done in the past to present a strong and robust case for investment.”

Earlier in the meeting, responding to Cllr James, the cabinet member said the council had invested £500,000 in the school in summer 2024 on top of its delegated budget, that pupil numbers remained “within an appropriate capacity” — and that the school “is not currently considered to be overcrowded”.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Cundy said there had been “written confirmation of a 75% top up from the previous Labour Welsh Government, awaiting the request for funds, which was never received from the County Council” — and that since the change of government in Cardiff, “this has not been ratified”. Cllr Davies had rejected the premise in the chamber, telling him the former Labour government “had not given the guaranteed allocation” to the previous project.

“Clearly, despite all the public fanfares, no money has been actually committed to the new Ysgol Heol Goffa,” Cllr Cundy said. “My biggest fear is that Plaid will claim again — at some point in the future — that it doesn’t have enough money to proceed with the new school, as they have in the past.”

Llanelli Labour town councillor and longstanding campaigner Shaun Greaney said the school community would be “devastated” if the funding position set out in the chamber was correct.

“How can they treat the Ysgol Heol Goffa community in such an awful way yet again?” he said. “Don’t they believe Ysgol Heol Goffa pupils deserve equality? Personally, I think they are a disgrace and should all resign.”

Labour county councillor Martyn Palfreman said pupils, parents and staff had been “badly let down”, accusing the Plaid-led council of “putting Llanelli last”.

But a markedly different account emerged from a briefing held for parents and governors on the same morning as the council meeting — attended by Reform UK county councillor Michelle Beer.

Cllr Beer said the session with the council’s director of education Owain Lloyd had been “positive and constructive”, with initial visual designs for the new school shared and “reassurance provided on a number of key issues” — and encouraged families to take part in the consultation.

The exchange comes amid wider pressure over provision at the school — with Llanelli Town Council recently backing calls for a dedicated school nurse, an issue that earlier this year drew the intervention of the Children’s Commissioner for Wales.

For families, the practical reality is this: the consultation is genuine and open until Tuesday 21 July, the designs exist, the cabinet member says there is “no intention to pull out now” — but the money that builds it rides on a business case that is yet to be written, and the date every parent is holding onto is September 2029. Have your say on the proposals here.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

LLANELLI: £35m new Ysgol Heol Goffa to open in 2029 after years of uncertainty — but funding question hangs over Plaid Cymru government
Our report from May — when the funding question first followed the new government into office.

LLANELLI: Consultation opens on £35m Ysgol Heol Goffa rebuild — two years after council scrapped the last one
The consultation now open to families — and how to take part.

LLANELLI: Town councillors to vote on motion demanding dedicated nurse for special school
The campaign for a dedicated nurse at Ysgol Heol Goffa.

CHILDREN’S COMMISSIONER STEPS IN: Watchdog demands meeting with health board over special school nurse crisis
When the watchdog intervened over the school’s nurse provision earlier this year.

Labour votes against Carmarthenshire budget despite press release saying they would abstain

In a press release issued before the vote, the Labour Group said it would abstain on the revenue budget and raise concerns about the capital programme. However, when the votes were taken, Labour councillors voted against both the revenue budget and the capital programme.

Labour Group Leader Cllr Deryk Cundy said the budget has been made possible by a one-off £5 million contribution from the Dyfed Pension Fund alongside additional national support from the UK and Welsh Labour governments, helping to keep council tax increases broadly in line with the cost of living.

However, he warned this does not resolve the council’s underlying financial pressures, including recurring overspends in Children’s Services and Adult Social Care, rising demand in Additional Learning Needs provision, and continued reliance on post reductions as a form of efficiency.

“This is not a failure of staff — our workforce is our greatest asset. The challenge lies in how the system itself is organised. Too many services still operate in silos, with duplication, late intervention and escalating costs,” Cllr Cundy said.

“Leadership is not about surviving the year. It is about securing the decade,” Cllr Cundy said in the press release issued before the vote, which stated Labour would not vote against the budget. However, Labour councillors subsequently voted against the budget when it came to the chamber.

Labour councillors acknowledged positive allocations within the programme, including funding for care provision, disabled facilities, environmental improvements and the demolition of the former Llanelli Leisure Centre to prevent further deterioration.

The Group also welcomed new national investment for Wales — including over £120 million in additional capital funding to support infrastructure, schools, transport and regeneration from the UK Labour Government working with the Welsh Government.

However, Labour said the county’s overall capital strategy does not yet deliver a fair or balanced approach across Carmarthenshire‘s communities.

Cllr Kevin Madge highlighted what Labour described as insufficient capital investment in areas such as the Amman Valley, Gwendraeth Valley and other rural and post-industrial communities, stressing that regeneration funding must be used to generate employment, housing opportunities and revitalised town centres.

The Group also questioned whether the £1 million allocated for flood mitigation is adequate given increasing climate pressures.

“Climate resilience is no longer optional infrastructure — it is essential protection for our communities,” Cllr Madge said.

Labour has called for greater transparency surrounding rising costs linked to the Debenhams redevelopment in Carmarthen, with councillors seeking clarification on project management decisions, long-term liabilities and future operating costs to ensure value for money.

The Group also expressed frustration that previously announced school developments — including Heol Goffa and Ammanford — remain absent from the current five-year capital programme despite funding having been identified within the Modernising Education Programme.

“Communities cannot be asked to wait indefinitely for projects that have already been promised,” Cllr Madge said.

Carmarthenshire Labour is proposing a whole-service review of the council’s approximately 750 services, using national audit evidence to redesign delivery around integration, prevention, and better use of data and technology.

Despite the press release stating Labour would not vote against the budget, the Group voted against it when the matter came to a vote.

Labour said future capital investment must be geographically fair, economically focused and aligned with long-term service reform, and pledged to continue constructive scrutiny of spending decisions to ensure public money delivers sustainable benefit for residents across the whole of Carmarthenshire.

Both the revenue budget and capital programme were approved despite Labour’s opposition.

New community hub opens in Llwynhendy as old library gets fresh lease of life

The renovated facility, now named Canolfan Llwynhendy, is open to the public following completion of works funded by the Welsh Government, Carmarthenshire County Council, Llanelli Rural Council, and Our Llwynhendy. Furnishing costs were supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The centre includes meeting rooms, a café, an automated library service, housing and employment advice, training opportunities, and a programme of events delivered through Pro-Vision Llwynhendy and Our Llwynhendy. Ownership of the building has officially transferred from Carmarthenshire County Council to Llanelli Rural Council.

The venue will operate Monday to Friday, with facilities available for hire seven days a week. An official opening ceremony is being planned, subject to ministerial availability, and a series of community events will be held to mark the launch.

“A fantastic venue for the community”

Council Leader and Chairman, Cllr Sue Lewis, said:

“Canolfan Llwynhendy is a fantastic venue for the community. It’s a fresh, light and welcoming space that has completely transformed the old library building. We’re proud to offer a place where people can access vital services locally and enjoy a wide range of activities.”

She added that the centre’s integration with outdoor improvements at Parc Y Gwili — including new play areas and landscaping — creates a seamless environment that encourages wellbeing and community use.

Cllr Deryk Cundy, Chairman of the Recreation and Welfare Committee, said:

“This is a real asset for Llwynhendy. The automated library service means longer opening hours and greater accessibility — no more part-time library services. But it’s not just about books; Canolfan Llwynhendy brings together a range of vital services under one roof.”

“The addition of a café creates a welcoming social space for residents to meet, relax, and engage with others, helping to build a stronger sense of community. Combined with the new play provisions and landscaping at Parc Y Gwili, the centre offers a seamless indoor-outdoor experience that makes the area a true destination for all ages.”

#canolfanLlwynhendy #carmarthenshireCountyCouncil #cllrDerykCundy #cllrSueLewis #llanelli #llanelliRuralCouncil #llwynhendy #llwynhendyLibrary #ourLlwynhendy #proVisionLlwynhendy #sharedProsperityFund #welshGovernment

Clash over £20m Carmarthenshire ‘Pride of Place’ funding

The county is set to receive up to £20 million over the next decade as part of the UK Government’s Pride of Place programme, which will channel £214 million into Wales to support high streets, community facilities and regeneration projects.

Labour: “Real money for real communities”

Cllr Cundy, leader of the Labour opposition group on Carmarthenshire Council, said the funding equated to £100 per resident over ten years and represented a major boost after years of austerity.

“This is fair and transparent — real money for real communities, funding that can revitalise high streets, improve local facilities, and support both rural villages and town centres,” he said.

He accused Plaid Cymru of “choosing grievance over growth”:

“Instead of welcoming help for Welsh people, Plaid prefer to complain. After more than a decade in charge of Carmarthenshire, Plaid Cymru seem quicker to complain than to deliver.”

Cllr Cundy stressed that it would be for the Plaid‑led administration to decide which areas benefit:

“Within the rules of the scheme, they have the chance to prioritise deprived villages, struggling town centres, or regeneration hotspots. If impoverished rural areas are left behind, that will be the result of Plaid’s choices locally — not Labour’s investment nationally.”

He added:

“Carmarthenshire alone will receive around £2 million a year, equal to £10 for every resident. Labour’s priority is simple: uniting Wales through investment, not playing politics with people’s futures. Because as the saying goes: you can’t spend a grievance in the corner shop — but you can spend £2 million a year improving Carmarthenshire.”

Plaid: “Disregard for rural communities”

But council leader Darren Price has joined fellow Plaid leaders from Ceredigion, Gwynedd and Anglesey in criticising the scheme’s design.

In their joint statement, they said:

“Any funding for communities across Wales is welcome, but it is clear this does not stem from an understanding of Wales’ needs. It is a political panic button pushed by Labour ahead of a difficult election.”

They argued that targeting investment zones of around 10,000 people would disadvantage rural areas:

“This Pride in Place programme specifically targets neighbourhoods with populations of around 10,000, of which there are only a handful in the four western local authorities we control. This approach highlights the Labour Government’s continued disregard for our rural communities that have been disproportionately underfunded over the years.”

The Plaid leaders added:

“The people of Wales can see through this. Labour has deserted its values and turned its back on promises to deliver fair funding for Welsh communities.”

Political stakes

The clash reflects wider tensions between Labour and Plaid over how regeneration money is distributed. Labour points to what it calls the “biggest Welsh Government budget settlement ever” and insists the Pride of Place scheme is about fairness and delivery. Plaid counters that the funding model is urban‑centric, leaving smaller villages at risk of being overlooked.

With Carmarthenshire Council responsible for drawing up the shortlist of communities, and the UK Government holding the final sign‑off, both parties are already positioning themselves to claim credit — or deflect blame — once the allocations are announced.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

‘Transformational for our communities’: South West Wales MPs react to £214m Pride in Place funding
Local MPs describe the £214m programme as a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity, though some councils say allocations fall short.

South West Wales to share in £214m Pride in Place investment for local projects
Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire each set to receive £20m, with further funding for Bridgend and Pembrokeshire.

#Carmarthenshire #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CllrDarrenPrice #CllrDerykCundy #PlaidCymru #PrideInPlace #PrideInPlaceFund #PrideInPlaceImpactFund #UKGovernment #WelshLabour

Campaigners condemn ‘appalling scandal’ over autism provision in Llanelli

A report commissioned by the council has found that at least 115 children in Carmarthenshire currently have no suitable education provision, and others face waits of up to three years for a formal diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC).

The findings have prompted strong criticism from families, campaign groups, and Labour representatives in Llanelli, who accuse the Plaid Cymru-led administration of failing in its statutory duty to vulnerable pupils.

The calls for urgent action come as the council confirms its intention to build a new school for Ysgol Heol Goffa, a specialist centre in Llanelli currently operating above capacity.

The new facility — approved after a long-running campaign and a petition with more than 9,000 signatures — will eventually accommodate 150 pupils, though campaigners argue this figure is too low to meet rising demand.

Shaun Greaney, Lliedi ward councillor, said: “The situation faced by children with autism and their families in Llanelli is an appalling scandal. In my view, there has been shocking neglect of their needs. Early intervention is essential to give these children the life chances they deserve. Yet the county council seems to have no clear plan, no timescale for action, and no answers to the problem, which is growing in scale.”

Education campaigner Becki Gilroy, whose daughter Millie attends Ysgol Heol Goffa, added: “Autistic children like my daughter Millie need specialist centres of excellence. Families need a more enlightened approach — not for their children to be placed in what can sometimes amount to not much more than a babysitting service.”

Campaigners have called for wider implementation of ‘Option 4’, the full recommendation from the council’s commissioned report, arguing that partial adherence will still leave many children without the support they need.

Councillor Deryk Cundy, Labour group leader on the county council, said: “I fear the education system in Carmarthenshire is in something of a crisis and could, in future years, collapse unless there is a clear strategy going forward. Most of our ASC provision schools are already full, with many children on waiting lists and more undiagnosed in inappropriate mainstream settings.”

He added: “Schools are working incredibly hard to help children with ASC, but to ignore the situation would be incompetence by this Plaid administration and is worrying in the extreme.”

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Ysgol Heol Goffa redevelopment plan approved by council
The specialist school in Llanelli is set to receive a long-awaited new building for up to 150 pupils.

Families urge better ASC support in Carmarthenshire schools
Parents say mainstream classrooms are struggling to meet growing needs of undiagnosed pupils.

Funding concerns ahead of Welsh Government change

Llanelli MP Dame Nia Griffith said the delay in approving the new Ysgol Heol Goffa project has placed funding at risk.

“When I last spoke to Lynne Neagle MS, the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Education, she reassured me that money is still on the table — potentially around 75% of the cost. But the council will need to complete the required three-stage process to unlock it,” she said.

Ms Griffith also raised concerns about the wider shortage of suitable ASC provision:

“We know the existing units have next to no spare capacity. Families have had to put their lives on hold to care for their children because the proper provision is not there. It is as if all the odds are stacked against these pupils and their families. There is a duty to stand up for them and ensure better outcomes than at present.”

Senedd elections in May could result in a change of government, with campaigners fearing that future funding may be less generous than current commitments.

#ASC #AustismSpectrumCondition #Autism #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CllrDerykCundy #CllrShaunGreaney #HeolGoffa #Llanelli #LynneNeagleMS #NiaGriffithMP #PlaidCymru #WelshGovernment #WelshLabour #YsgolHeolGoffa

Decision on new Heol Goffa school expected this month

A long-awaited decision on a new special school for Llanelli could finally be made this month, with Carmarthenshire Council’s cabinet member for education, Cllr Glynog Davies, confirming he intends to bring forward a “definitive proposal” at a cabinet meeting on July 31.

The announcement follows years of uncertainty surrounding the future of Ysgol Heol Goffa, which serves pupils with additional learning needs and has long been described as overcrowded and unfit for purpose. Plans for a replacement school were first agreed in 2017 but were shelved last year due to rising costs — sparking protests, petitions and widespread community backlash.

Two options on the table

Following an independent review of specialist education in the Llanelli area, the council is now considering two revised options:

• A 150-place school, alongside specialist centres for pupils with autistic spectrum conditions attached to mainstream schools
• A 250-place standalone school, which would include provision for autistic pupils — and is the preferred option of Ysgol Heol Goffa’s governors and campaigners

Cost estimates range from £36.2 million to £58.1 million, with the Welsh Government expected to fund the majority of the capital investment.

Cllr Davies told full council on July 23 that “a lot of work” had now been done and that the proposal was “imminent” — though opposition councillors and parents say they’re still waiting for firm answers.

Political tensions and community frustration

Labour opposition leader Cllr Deryk Cundy pressed Cllr Davies for a clear timeline, saying parents deserved peace of mind after eight years of delays. Cllr Davies responded that the matter had to go before cabinet and reiterated his intention to make a formal proposal on July 31.

The exchange has reignited political tensions, with Plaid Cymru councillor Terry Davies accusing Labour of “generating headlines” rather than seeking genuine answers. In a Facebook post, he said:

“The announcement on Ysgol Heol Goffa has already been agreed with the school and its governors… If we’d pursued Labour’s previous proposal, the new school would already be facing serious capacity issues on opening day.”

But parents say the issue is far more urgent than party politics. Becki Gilroy, whose child attends Heol Goffa, responded:

“How dare you try and turn this around to the narrative that ‘Plaid are heroes for not building the original school as it was too small’. That’s a total insult to our intelligence. It was obvious from the start that the original plans didn’t meet current or future demand — but at least they would have provided a safe, accessible building. Right now, we’ve got water coming through the ceiling and doorways too narrow for wheelchairs.

Let’s be clear: the reason the council pulled the plug wasn’t capacity — it was cost. And now, after years of delay, we’re being told to wait even longer while they rework the plans. Meanwhile, children are stuck on waiting lists, denied the education they’re entitled to.

The David Davies review makes it crystal clear — unless a suitable school is built promptly, CCC is breaching its legal duties under the Equality Act. That includes failing to provide reasonable adjustments and accessible facilities for disabled pupils. This isn’t just a moral failure — it’s potentially unlawful discrimination.

And before anyone tries to politicise this, I’m not Plaid or Labour. I’m a parent of a disabled child who’s sick to the back teeth of being fobbed off. Our children deserve better — and the council needs to act before it’s too late.”

Campaigners demand action

The Ysgol Heol Goffa Action Committee, which has led protests and gathered thousands of petition signatures, says time is running out. In a statement earlier this year, the group wrote:

“Time is of the essence here; parents do not want to be waiting another five years plus for the new school. We agree that the school can be delivered in a more cost-effective manner, while also increasing pupil capacity to address the ever-growing need.”

The group has consistently backed the 250-place option, arguing that anything smaller would be outdated before it opens.

What happens next?

Cllr Davies is expected to present his proposal at the July 31 cabinet meeting, where councillors will review feasibility work and costings. If approved, the new school would replace the current Heol Goffa site, which has been described in council reports as “not fit for purpose” and facing significant accessibility and maintenance issues.

Related stories on Heol Goffa and specialist education in Llanelli

Concerns raised over future of Heol Goffa special school amid Reform UK surge and council delays
Published June 2024: Campaigners say political uncertainty and missed deadlines are putting disabled pupils at risk, as calls grow for urgent action on a new school.

Education cabinet member to propose new-build additional learning needs school
Published July 2024: Cllr Glynog Davies confirms plans to bring forward a new proposal for Heol Goffa, following feasibility work and community consultation.

Council says it’s looking at alternative scheme after axing Heol Goffa replacement school
Published March 2024: Carmarthenshire Council outlines new options after scrapping the previously approved school build due to rising costs.

MP says council decision to scrap new Heol Goffa school plans ‘wrong choice’
Published February 2024: Llanelli MP Dame Nia Griffith criticises the council’s decision to halt the new school project, calling it a setback for disabled children and their families.

#additionalLearningNeeds #additionalLearningNeedsProvisionWales #AdditionalLearningNeedsSchool #ALN #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CllrDerykCundy #CllrGlynogDavies #CllrTerryDavies #HeolGoffa #HeolGoffaActionCommittee #Llanelli #newSchool #PlaidCymru #specialSchool #WelshLabour #YsgolHeolGoffa