Welsh language campaigners have raised questions following news that Pembrokeshire Council plans to consult afresh on the re-organisation of Welsh-medium education in the Mid and North West of the county in an extraordinary council meeting today (September 10th).

In January this year the council agreed to a recommendation, following a consultation, to open a Welsh secondary school in Haverfordwest. Council today agreed to a report that recommends holding an extra consultation on three separate issues: Welsh-medium provision; provision in Haverfordwest; and provision in the Fishguard and St David's areas.

Kevin Knox, a local member of Cymdeithas yr Iaith an a long-standing campaigner for a Welsh-medium secondary school in the area said:
"The consultation earlier this year showed that 96% of respondents are willing to have a Welsh-medium secondary school here in Haverfordwest so why do we need yet another consultation? People have been waiting for years if not decades for a Welsh Secondary school in the South of the county, at last there was a promise of a school by 2019 but this raises more uncertainty and delay.
"People do not want more talks and consultation and form filling – they just want a school they or their children can go to.”

Bethan Williams, Dyfed organiser for Cymdeithas yr Iaith said:
"There is no definite site for a Welsh-medium school in Haverfordwest now and it would be much better to spend time on finding a site for the school instead of holding yet another consultation. The response to the previous consultation on re-organisation was amongst the highest the council has received, but here they are, asking everyone to respond again. Not only that but the consultation on reorganisation is split into three parts. Two or three consultations will be relevant to some people so they will have to respond to each one separately.
"Too many children in the county have lost out on Welsh education or have had to travel long distances for Welsh medium education as it is."

“The latest plans still don't deal with post-16 education in Welsh. Any pupils in the county will still be expected to go to Ysgol y Preseli. We will draw attnetion to this in our respone to the consultation – and encourage other residents to do the same.”

A decision was also made to establish a 3-16 school in place of Ysgol Dewi Sant, Ysgol Bro Dewi VA and Solva CP School ; and to discuss with Ysgol Croesgoch governors about the possibility of it becoming a Welsh school over time.

In reaction to this Bethan Williams said:

“We are always glad to see schools increasing their Welsh provision but not a the expense of other schools. We have called time and again on the council to move all schools along the language continuum over time. As there is now an intention to open a new 3-16 school in St Davids why not establish it as a bilingual school with the intention of it becoming a Welsh school over time?"